Hopkinsville City Council approved an amended ordinance on second reading at Thursday night’s meeting to end the prohibition of the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sundays.
Council moved forward with approving the amended ordinance after hearing from a few members of the public in support and opposition to Sunday alcohol sales. Brother Joe Bufford with Hillcrest Baptist Church urged the council to not pass the ordinance on second reading because he has personally seen how alcohol-related tragedies have affected local families.
click to download audioKate Russell, the owner of Hopkinsville Brewing Company, asked the council to approve the ordinance because it will help her small business and family.
click to download audioThe amended ordinance will allow the sale of alcoholic beverages at bars, package stores, and restaurants from 11 a.m. Sunday to 2:00 a.m. Monday — as is the law the other six days of the week. The ordinance remains the same for Easter and Christmas Day in which no alcohol sales are permitted.
The new law passed by a 10-1 vote with Councilman Phillip Brooks casting the only no vote. Councilman Terry Parker was absent from the meeting.
In other action, the council approved an ordinance on the second reading that establishes and provides a one-time payment of COVID-19 related retention stipends of up to a maximum of $4,000 for eligible employees that meet the criteria and worked for the city between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020.
