Rigby council to redraft ordinance to allow by-the-drink alcohol sales on Sundays
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RIGBY — A redraft of the city’s beer, wine, and liquor ordinance is on the agenda for Thursday.
Currently, the ordinance prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages by the drink on Sundays, but allows grocery and convenient stores to sale packaged beer and wine.
State law leaves the decision to sell packaged or bottled liquor from liquor stores on Sundays to the county commissioners.
In Jefferson County, it is illegal to sell packaged liquor on Sundays, but you can buy it buy the drink in a bar or restaurant outside of Rigby.
Thursday’s redraft of the current city ordinance is intended to allow by-the-drink sales of beer, wine, and liquor on Sunday in Rigby, meaning bars in town can legally stay open for business.
The question of Sunday liquor sales came up in February 2015. At that time the Rigby City Council voted 3-2 against an ordinance that would allow liquor sales on Sunday.
Seven months later, Mayor Jason Richardson and the City Council agreed to put the question of Sunday liquor sales on the ballot as an advisory vote and planned to use the outcome of the vote to help set the city’s official policy.
Two hundred and fifty-four people voted in support of the city ordinance banning Sunday sales, and 132 voted against.
Now, a year later, the City Council has brought the issue back up. The City Council added the redraft to the ordinance to its Thursday agenda, which would allow sale of alcohol by the drink on Sundays.
Council Member Douglas Burke tells EastIdahoNews.com the issues of beer, wine, and liquor sales on Sunday comes up just about every year.
“Most recently, a couple of the bar owners approached a council member and asked to put the discussion back on the agenda,” Burke tells EastIdahoNews.com. “So we talked about it and voted in favor of it.”
Burk went on to say he doesn’t think the city should limit any business.