A motion to allow package alcohol stores to locate in Eupora failed during a prolonged procedural process at a city board meeting.
The item was not on the Board of Aldermen’s agenda on Dec. 7. However, Mayor Lamar Dumas asked the board for a motion to amend the agenda to add the item “ABC stores.”
Specifically, the matter was to discuss whether or not to allow package stores to locate here. Retail package liquor stores are regulated by the Mississippi Department of Revenue’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.
Junior Shaw (Ward 1) made a motion to amend the agenda and Robert Gibbs (Ward 4) seconded. Jerry Gary (at-large) and Hugh Gibson (Ward 3) voted nay — resulting in a tie vote because Ward 4 Alderman Howard Rumore was absent.
The board then tabled the item until after voting to hire Joey Hood as the new city attorney (which was reported last week). After Hood joined the meeting, Dumas again asked for a motion to amend the agenda, with the same motion, second and outcome as before. Dumas broke the tie by voting to amend the agenda.
The mayor then said Eupora had made a big change when its citizens voted in an Oct. 29 special election to give the city qualified resort area status. The board adopted a related ordinance of regulations Nov. 2. As a resort area, beer and light wines can be sold within the city at convenience and grocery stores with special-use permits. Alcoholic beverages by the glass, including beer and light wines, can be sold at permitted restaurants.
Resort status also allows package stores to locate here if so approved by the Board of Aldermen. Holders of a package retailer’s permit may open a store exclusively for the sale of prepackaged alcoholic beverages (liquor and wine), not to be consumed on the premises where sold.
“I think we need to go all the way, personally,” Dumas said in regard to allowing package stores here. “I wish we’d stand together on this.”
Comments that followed were in reference to job creation, economic growth (from increased sales tax collections) and people going out of county to buy liquor.
“A town this small could probably only support two (package stores) at the most,” Dumas said. “I know of only one who is going to apply (for a permit)”
A question was also asked about Sunday sales. Hood noted that by having resort status, the city could set hours of operation for package stores. The former city attorney did prepare a separate and optional ordinance before the special election concerning package stores, but it has not been adopted. It would regulate the sale, distribution and possession of alcoholic beverages within the city limits.
When Dumas called for a motion to allow ABC/package liquor stores “subject to the laws of Mississippi” to come into the city, Shaw moved to do so and Gibbs seconded his motion. Further discussion followed, with Gibson asking his fellow aldermen to think about it before voting.
“There are people who are going to drive out of town to buy beer and whiskey, but some won’t,” he said. “It’s not all about being easy to do. … (If they want whiskey), let them drive to Maben.”
During the back and forth about the issue, a question was raised as to whether the mayor could break a tie vote to amend the agenda. Dumas said he did have that authority, but the board agreed to allow Hood to consult the Mississippi Code while it handled other agenda items. Later in the meeting, Hood confirmed that the mayor could break a tie vote because the city operates under a code charter form of government.
Dumas then called for a vote on the previous motion. Shaw voted aye, Gary and Gibson voted nay, and Gibbs — although he had seconded the motion — abstained.
Dumas announced the motion did not pass and the board moved on to the next issue. The matter failed 1-2 since an abstention does not count as a vote and a majority (those present and voting) was not in favor.
Gibbs, in an interview afterwards about abstaining to vote, said it did not matter to him whether package stores were allowed here or not. However, the alderman said while he agreed that they might help the city’s economy, he did not want to do anything that might also result in increased crime.
