City council OKs ordinance update for weekday, weekend alcohol sales

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, 1 a.m. — The Bardstown City Council gave initial approval Tuesday night of an ordinance that changes the times stores can begin alcohol sales, for both package stores and liquor by the drink.

Restaurants and other businesses that serve liquor by the drink and package retail stores (liquor stores, convenience stores, etc.) will be allowed to begin sales at 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Sunday sales at package stores can begin at 6 a.m., though liquor by the drink on Sundays cannot begin until 1 p.m. This includes restaurants, bars and private clubs.

The change is an effort to make the city’s alcohol sales ordinance match state law. The city’s existing ordinance doesn’t allow package sales to begin until 8 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Many retailers were selling alcohol before 8 a.m. because they were unaware the local ordinance on sales did not match state law.

The council will give final approval of the changes at the next council meeting on Dec. 29.

Councilman Fred Hagan asked the council to reconsider a resolution for Bible Reading Week Jan. 1-8, 2016.

RESOLUTION’S APPROPRIATENESS QUESTIONED. The appropriateness of resolution proclaiming the Bible as the “inspired Word of God” that is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness according to 2 Timothy 3:16” was questioned at Tuesday’s council meeting.

Prior to approval of a resolution that proclaims Jan. 1-8, 2016 as “Bible Reading Week,” Councilman Fred Hagan asked the council to think stop and think about the resolution and suggested that approving it would be an endorsement of a specific religious belief by the council.

“We work for all the citizens of Bardstown, and not all of the citizens of Bardstown are Christians,” Hagan said. “I don’t think all of the citizens of Bardstown believe the Bible is the word of God. I don’t think the city council should be in the business of promoting a Christian or religious belief. I don’t think that’s our job.”

The resolution was sponsored by Kentucky 120 United, a group of pastors, laity and professionals that represent all 120 counties striving to bring unity in Kentucky “with a return of the Christian beliefs in which our nation was founded” by holding a Bible reading marathon the week of Jan. 1-8.

An information pamphlet from Kentucky 120 United states the marathon’s goal is to have volunteers read the Bible non-stop from beginning to end during the marathon period in a public venue.

The council approved the resolution with Hagan casting the only vote “no” vote.

Councilman Francis Lydian voices opposition to an ordinance that would move the council’s meeting time from 7 p.m. to 5 p.m.

NO CHANGE IN MEETING TIME. At the Dec. 1 working session, the council briefly discussed moving the starting time for regular council meetings from 7 p.m. to 5 p.m. None of the council at that meeting voiced an objection to the idea, but that changed at Tuesday’s meeting.

Councilman Francis Lydian was absent from the working session and said he didn’t agree with moving the meeting time up to hours, and called the move a burden on citizens who wished to attend.

Councilwoman Kecia Copeland agreed with Lydian.

“Some people are getting off work at 5 o’clock and not everyone’s retired or owns their own business. If they wanted to come to a certain meeting they wouldn’t be able to, or they would miss part of the meeting” she said. “Seven o’clock may be better for them than 5 o’clock.”

Council Bobby Simpson asked if the council could try the 5 p.m. start time temporarily as a trial. City Clerk Barbie Bryant told Simpson that any variance from the ordinance on meeting times requires calling a special meeting, which has its own requirements and limitations.

Hagan told the council that the time change proved to be a burden, the council could always change the start time back to 7 p.m.

Though an actual vote on first readings of ordinances is not necessary, Lydian asked Mayor John Royalty to do so on the time change ordinance. The measure failed with 3 votes against and 2 votes in favor, with Councilmen Hagan and Bill Buckman voting in for the time change.

REMOTE ELECTRIC METER READING. The council approved a bid of $765,191.95 from Tantalus for remote electric utility reading equipment and software. The bid includes the necessary hardware for remote electric meter reading and will also allow remote water meter readings.

Tantalus develops, manufactures and markets two-way data communications networks for electric, water and gas utilities.

Jeff Mills, city electrical engineer, told the council the bid also includes 500 electric meters that can be remotely disconnected. These will be placed in locations where meter cut-offs occur regularly, which can include apartment units and other locations.

The hardware and software will improve efficiency and reduce costs for the city utility department.

In other business, the council:

— gave final approval of penalties for violations of city ordinances governing signs, property maintenance, solid waste, animals, drainage, occupational licenses and nuisances. The soon-to-be formed code enforcement board.

— approved a bid of $1,200 from Thomas Wheeler for the right to cut hay at the city’s wastewater treatment plant on Sutherland Road. Wheeler submitted the sole bid of $30 per acre for the approximately 40 acres of city-owned land.

— approved a Design Review Board recommendation for a 1,500 square-foot maintenance shop building at 168 Wildcat Lane next to Mid-South Metals.

— agreed to move its second December council meeting from Dec. 22 to Dec. 29.

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