Lake Butler Community Page News Tidbits

The Lake Butler City Commission, at their May 21, 2019 regular monthly meeting, held the first reading of Ordinance 2019-01. This ordinance is set to replace the existing ordinance related to alcohol sales on Sundays within the city limits of Lake Butler.

The discussion of alcohol sales on Sundays has been brought up before, and most recently this year a special workshop was held on April 21, 2019 to discuss the matter. The new ordinance will allow for the sale/serving of alcoholic beverages by all businesses and establishments duly licensed and permitted to sale same by law on each and every Sunday between the hours of 1:00pm and 11:00pm. During the April workshop, it was mentioned about allowing only restaurants that are licensed and permitted to serve alcoholic beverages on Sundays. However, this discussion brought to the attention of the commission that such a decision might cause a conflict with one business being allowed and another, such as a convenience store or bar, not being allowed to. So the decision was made to allow all licensed and permitted businesses and establishments to be included.

Pastor Shane Collins, of First Christian Church of Lake Butler spoke to the city commission advising he was opposed to the ordinance as it was written. In doing research, Collins advised of statistics of excessive alcohol consumption, and advised the commissions to also do research. He indicated he did not feel the situation was a problem in relation to the restaurants, but felt that problems would arise from the stores selling alcoholic beverages and the consumption of alcohol in the bars.

Another local resident, Bill Thomas, stepped up to say he opposed the new ordinance as well. He told the commission that he had lived in Lake Butler for more than 50 years and the city had never allowed alcohol sales on Sunday. In comparing Lake Butler to the tv series town of “Mayberry”, Thomas said he wanted to keep the community wholesome and added, “I just don’t think that alcohol sales on Sundays send out the right message about our community.”

Following was Full House Lounge owner, Tyler Griffis. He indicated that his employees are well-trained and experienced in judging when a customer has had enough and should be cut-off from further drink purchases, and that they would use this judgement on Sundays just as they do throughout the rest of the week. Tyler added, “It’s a matter of choice for the individual consu,er, whether they will or will not make an alcohol purchase on Sunday.” Tyler also told the commission, “Right now, a lot of business leaves our city and county every Sunday. People will go out of town to be able to have a drink with their lunch or dinner, and then they are likely to stay where they have traveled to and shop or buy groceries. Making it unnecessary for them to have to leave the community to get what they want will benefit the city.”

The final public comment came from Ashley Crews of Simmerdown, the restaurant by Lakeside Park. She told the commission that, “as many research documents that you can find that are against alcohol sales, there are just as many that are shown to debunk them.” Crews mentioned that in not passing the ordinance, it would just be taking away from the community in taxes earned with the sales.

After the public comments were complete, Commissioner Cason asked City Attorney John Maines if the ordinance was passed, whether the city could repeal it if it showed to be a problem and how difficult it would be to do so. Maines advised that it could be repealed at any time the commission chose to do so and the process was the same as passing the ordinance. To repeal the ordinance, it would have to be advertised, then followed by two readings and approvals. A motion was then made by Commissioner Jack Schenck to approve the ordinance in first reading, and Commissioner Cason seconded the motion. The motion was passed by the commission 5-0.

The ordinance will be voted on once more at the June 18, 2019 Lake Butler City Commission Meeting, and it passes this second time, it will replace the current ordinance that prohibits alcohol sales on Sundays in the city. If passed, the new ordinance will allow for the sale/serving of alcoholic beverages by all businesses and establishments duly licensed and permitted to sale same by law on each and every Sunday between the hours of 1:00pm and 11:00pm within the city limits of Lake Butler.