Sunday liquor sales could officially be a-go in Emporia later this year.
During a brief action meeting Wednesday, city commissioners voted 5-0 on an ordinance to allow sales from noon to 8 p.m. Sundays in within city limits. Vice Mayor Jon Geitz explains why the commission decided to go this route rather than initially putting the issue to a question.
Geitz says he fully expects a protest to the ordinance. Petitioners would need five percent voters in Emporia who turned out during the 2016 presidential election, for the ordinance to appear on the August primary ballot. The 60-day protest window begins April 23, after the ordinance has been published in the Emporia Gazette for two weeks. The ordinance will tentatively go into effect after the 60 days is up (June 23) or after the August election (if it is petitioned). State law still requires no sales of cereal malt beverages on Easter and no sales of alcoholic liquor on Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
During public comment, Emporia residents Jim Telfer, Chester Morris and Pastor Joe Tuttle with Bethel Baptist Church urged the commission to reconsider based on faith and concerns with alcohol addiction.
In other action, the commission approved a resolution regarding a parking restriction for the Emporia Farmers’ Market in the 700 Merchant Street parking lot which will essentially clear the parking lot after 3 p.m. Wednesdays and early Saturday mornings ahead of the markets.
After the action meeting concluded, city commissioners went into a study session. Discussion included moving up the proposed merger of the Planning Commission & Board of Zoning Appeals to summer 2018 rather than Jan. 1, 2019 due to vacancies on the Planning Commission and the ability to fill those with existing BZA members. Geitz says it’s a matter of creating more efficiency.
Additionally, the city commission held discussions with city engineering officials giving direction on future priorities for major road resurfacing projects based on funds available through the KDOT Federal Fund Exchange Program, focusing on Industrial Road (from Hwy 50 to 18th) and Merchant Street (from South to 12th Ave.) as the top priorities. The two projects combined would cost approximately $930,000.
The commission also discussed possible options for improvements to parking lots at both 721 and 607 Mechanic Street and Public Works updating on the estimates for a water line replacement along Prairie under the railroad after a break last winter. The issue will come back for further review in a study session in two weeks.
The city commission will hold its next action meeting at 7 p.m. April 18.
Wednesday 11:00 a.m.
An ordinance to allow Sunday alcohol sales in the Emporia city limits has passed the City Commission.
The vote was 5-0 to allow Sunday sales as city commissioners held an adjourned action meeting Wednesday. Several years ago, Emporia decided against liquor sales on Sundays, but nearby towns like Americus, Lebo and Olpe began allowing the sales.
The ordinance will allow Sunday sales from noon to 8 pm on all Sundays except for certain holidays — namely Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Wednesday’s vote also sets a 60-day window for a protest petition to develop once the ordinance is officially published for two weeks. Five percent of Emporia voters that voted in the 2016 presidential election are needed on the petition for the protest to go on an upcoming ballot.
Check KVOE and KVOE.com for details.
