City to set vote on Sunday alcohol sales

SHEFFIELD -- Mayor Billy Don Anderson said he plans to ask the city council to set a date to let residents decide if they want alcohol sold on Sundays in restaurants and hotels.

The state Legislature this spring approved a local act allowing Sheffield to conduct a Sunday sales referendum.

Sheffield residents voted in favor of Sunday sales in an unsuccessful countywide referendum in July 2005. That bill would have allowed the sale of alcohol on Sunday for on- and off-premises consumption. The outcome of the election prompted Sheffield officials to seek a referendum that would only apply to their city.

The mayor said the upcoming referendum would allow only the on-premises consumption of alcohol at restaurants and hotels. Anderson said the city needs Sunday sales to help generate tax revenue.

"When we asked for this bill and when we wrote this bill, the purpose was to protect our two hotels, which are capable of holding small conventions, and our restaurants," Anderson said. "We're trying to protect their economic competitiveness."

Florence voters approved on-premises Sunday alcohol sales May 3, 2005.

Anderson said the referendum would be scheduled for sometime between August and October, but most likely in September.

City Clerk Clayton Kelly said the referendum would be held on the second or fourth Tuesday.

Anderson said the first step will be for the council to authorize a public notice of the referendum and for the act to be advertised in a local newspaper for two weeks.

"Sheffield needs to protect its two convention hotels, plus we need to be on a level playing field with the Florence restaurants," said Councilwoman Verna Brennan.

Brennan said Sunday sales would help those restaurants that are open on Sunday but cannot sell alcohol, such as the Outback Steakhouse.

Kelly said the referendum will likely cost $6,000 to $7,000. He said the rental of machines, the cost of ballots and software for a recent education property tax referendum cost $6,151.

The figure did not include the cost of poll workers, Kelly said.

Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@timesdaily.com.