By Roger McKinney
rmckinney@joplinglobe.com
COLUMBUS, Kan. — It may be a while before customers of Angelo’s Deli in Hallowell can buy a beer with their sandwiches on Sundays.
When the owners of the deli approached the Cherokee County Commission last month about selling beer on Sundays, the commissioners told them to get approval of their township board. One of the owners, Shannon Dunbar, returned to the County Commission on Monday with written approval of the Lola Township board.
“I just thought you wanted a permit to sell beer,” said Commissioner Pat Collins. “I didn’t know it was a Sunday thing.”
Dunbar and the other owner, Tom Taylor, had requested permission to sell low-alcohol-content beer at the deli for consumption off the premises. Dunbar said at that meeting that many customers were surprised that the business couldn’t sell beer on Sundays.
Commissioners Jack Garner and Richard Hilderbrand said they understood the request. Hilderbrand said he asked County Counselor Kevin Cure to research the issue.
Cure told the commissioners that they could either approve or not approve a resolution allowing Sunday beer sales at Angelo’s and four other businesses within the county but outside of towns. He said that if the county were to approve the resolution, it wouldn’t take effect for 60 days. During that time, opponents could present a petition containing signatures equal to 5 percent of the registered voters in the 2008 presidential election who live in the county, but outside of the towns. The petition would force an election on the issue.
Cure said that if the commission didn’t pass a resolution, Sunday beer sales at the business wouldn’t be allowed.
“You don’t have to pass the resolution,” Cure said.
“I guess the buck stops here then,” Collins said. “Well, I’m sorry, I’m not cashing it.”
Collins directed Cure to do further research to determine if the issue could go directly to the ballot.
“I’d like a further examination of the issue,” Collins said.
Cure said he would do more research, but he didn’t think placing the issue on the ballot directly was allowed under state law.
“I don’t want to do it if it’s going to upset anybody,” Dunbar said. When she asked the commissioners if they thought there would be opposition, they responded as one.
“You’d be surprised,” they said.
Hilderbrand said later that he would favor conducting a public hearing on the issue, adding that the opinions of the other two commissioners also must be considered.
Dunbar was asked outside the meeting what she thought about what the commissioners told her.
“There’s a lot more involved than I thought,” she said. She said the commissioners were trying to consider all county residents.
“It’s not as simple as I thought it would be,” Dunbar said.
Others
Other businesses that would be affected by a Cherokee County resolution allowing Sunday beer sales are Truck and Travel, south of Pittsburg; R&J;’s Convenience Store, in Cherokee; Riverton Quik Stop; and Jack’s Shack, outside Baxter Springs. Inside incorporated towns, Columbus allows Sunday beer sales, but Galena and Baxter Springs do not.
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