Liquor Sales

As of this week, Argo joined the growing list of municipalities in St. Clair County that allow alcohol sales on Sunday.

Members of the Argo City County canvassed votes from the April 12 special election on Tuesday, April 19. With a final count of 108 in favor to 79 opposed, the outcome left Mayor Paul Jennings with conflicting feelings – but not about the voters’ decision.

“It’s kind of sickening to see less than 10 percent of your community’s registered voters show up to vote,” Jennings said during the St. Clair County Mayors Association meeting on April 19.

The vote to allow Sunday alcohol sales was made possible when a bill sponsored by State Sen. Jim McClendon of Springville was signed into law last year. Instead of creating a blanket set of rules for the county, the bill allowed each municipality to hold an election to decide.

Almost immediately, Pell City, Moody and Riverside scheduled special elections, and voters in all three municipalities approved. Next, in November 2015, Springville residents passed the measure.

In 2016, Margaret and Odenville both held special elections. Margaret voted overwhelmingly in favor, while Odenville residents voted against. The City of Odenville was criticized for its promotion of the election, which some residents said led to it being voted down.

Aside from Pell City and Moody, voter turnout on the issue of Sunday sales has been consistently low. Argo, Margaret, Odenville and Springville have around 2,500 registered voters each, but fewer than 10 percent showed up in the elections.

Jennings said the Council had initially intended not to call a special election on the issue, choosing instead to include it on the municipal ballot in August 2016. However, he said once nearby municipalities began scheduling theirs, the Council decided it was necessary.

“We said it made sense when Pell City and Riverside planned theirs immediately because they were on the lake, and Moody made sense because it was competing on I-20,” Jennings said. “But with all these others approving the measure, we realized we would be surrounded.

“It was the right thing to do for our residents and business owners.”

In addition, Jennings said, it was the right thing to do for the community. While available space for retail development is limited along the city’s main corridors and at its I-59 exit, having the option to compete for restaurants and other businesses that require Sunday alcohol sales is a benefit.

“Most restaurants won’t even have the discussion unless you allow alcohol sales on Sunday,” he said. “Now we can discuss.”