Osage County Herald-Chronicle | Voters could decide Sunday liquor sales

Carbondale City Council
Voters could decide Sunday liquor sales

Wayne White | Managing Editor

CARBONDALE—Voters might have the opportunity to determine whether liquor is sold on Sunday in Carbondale, but council members tabled the decision until a full council is present to consider it.

A liquor store owner in Carbondale recently made a request to sell liquor on Sunday, prompting Monday evening’s discussion by Carbondale City Council members Daryl Makowski, Mike Reynolds and George Reed. Absent from the regular council meeting were council members Clint Vawter and Mike Fulton.

Carbondale resident and former council member Lee Curtis informed the council of his opposition to the change, citing the irresponsibility of some alcohol users.

He referred to the death of a traffic accident victim as one reason to oppose Sunday liquor sales.

“I would have opposed it the day before she got killed,” Curtis said, “I would have opposed it yesterday, I will oppose it tomorrow.” He did not name the victim, although he said the council knew whom he was referring to.

Curtis also said the local Alcoholics Anonymous meetings were proof of the irresponsibility of alcohol users.

“The only organization in town that’s growing is meeting two doors west of us right now,” Curtis said, “and those people have been irresponsible. That’s why they’re there, it’s court ordered. There’s probably 25 percent of them there because they need it, but the rest of them are there because it’s court ordered. Why contribute to the problem … why let an irresponsible person not plan out their weekend where they have to have a place open on Sunday to get their alcohol?”

With Reynolds saying, “I really don’t care one way or the other,” Curtis admonished him and the other council members.

“With issues like this, you’ve got to take a stand, each and every one of you,” Curtis said.

“If people who consume it are not going to be responsible, then our elected officials have to be responsible enough to regulate it.”

Curtis said any sales tax revenue from liquor sales “ain’t worth it,” but was informed by Carbondale Mayor Ruth Towne that the city does not receive revenue from liquor taxes.

City attorney Sue Devoe advised the council that it would require a unanimous vote by the three council members present and the mayor to enact the change. Other options were to table the issue or put it to a vote of citizens.

Reynolds questioned the cost of an election, and was informed by city clerk Sandy Schiffelbein there would be no cost except for publication costs, if a vote was conducted during November’s general election.

Reynolds made a motion to put the issue on the November ballot, but Makowski said he wanted to wait until a full council was present to make the decision.

“I tend to agree that to put it to a vote like that sounds like a good idea,” Makowski said. “but maybe table it until next time.”

Reed’s motion to table the issue until a full council was present was approved.

In other business, the council:

• considered whether part-time and full-time police officers should provide their own weapons. Carbondale Police Chief Adam Marion said the police policy manual was in error by stating part-time officers would carry department-issued handguns; the error was created two years ago when the manual was revised. The discussion was tabled until it could be considered by the entire council.

• heard an inquiry by Reynolds regarding why a newspaper reporter was recording the meeting. It was noted that any member of the public can record public meetings. Reynolds later said he was concerned because he did not know the reporter.

• approved the purchase of equipment and services from Jayhawk Software, of Iola, to provide backup of computer data and software at an initial cost of $1,105 plus $375 per year after the first year. The company also provides the city’s utility billing software. The new system will backup the city’s data on an external hard drive and a remote server.

• approved a contract with Propane Central, Topeka, for the purchase of 3,000 gallons of propane at a cost of $3,897. The city’s water treatment plant and a lift station use propane.

• appointed Reed to the city’s planning commission.

• heard a presentation by Stephanie Watson, Osage County economic development director, regarding her office’s participation in state employment programs.