The council approved the sale during its Tuesday, June 12 meeting after the Alabama Legislature approved House Bill 557, authorizing the sale of draft or keg beer or malt beverages by properly licensed retail licenses of the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, as presented by Cherokee County Representative to the Alabama Legislature Richard Lindsey which was approved and signed by Gov. Robert Bentley this past April.
Centre officially “went wet” after voters approved the sale of alcoholic beverages in a referendum held the day of the general election in November 2010.
According to Section 2 of HB 557, “The sale of draft beer or keg beer or malt beverages for on-premises consumption by retail licensees of the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board is authorized within Cherokee County so long as approved by a majority vote of the county commission or, if applicable, the city council of the municipality where the licensee is located.”
“The sale of draft of keg beer or malt beverages for off-premises consumption in kegs by retail licenses of the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board is authorized within the county only if such beverages are sold in kegs and so long as approved by a majority vote of the county commission or, if applicable, the city council of the municipality where the license is located.”
According to Section 3, “All resolutions and ordinances relating to the sale, consumption and possession of bottle or canned beer shall apply to draft or keg beer or malt beverages.”
Council Member Joe Hall opposed the proposed action to legalize draft beer and malt beverage sales.
On another matter, it looks as if the city will be shopping for a new telephone system. During the meeting, Richard Burleson, account manager for TDS informed the council that its current system would soon become obsolete.
“The old phone system was put in at least 20 years ago,” Burleson explained. “That company filed for bankruptcy and is no longer in business, TDS, as of Jan. 1, can no longer service or support that phone system. If that phone system goes down, we are not allowed to service it for legal reasons.”
“If you have a good lightning strike and your phone system goes down, you are looking at about a month’s down time to find parts to repair the system,” said Burleson. “You really can’t afford to have that.”
Burleson recommended a system similar to one currently in use by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce. The council has the option of purchasing a system outright or leasing the system.
The council agreed to allow Burleson to draw up a proposal and pricing for consideration at the next meeting.
In a related matter the council agreed to check into a claim by TDS of overpayment of use tax for the city of Centre.
The council also approved purchase of a Cub Cadet lawn mower for $6,900 from The Tractor Place of Centre. The Tractor Place was the lowest of three bids.
Post a Comment