Florentines speak on proposed Sunday alcohol sales

FLORENCE — Local business and economic leaders at Florence City Council’s meeting Monday said Sunday alcohol sales would bring vastly more money and travelers to area restaurants, while some residents said such a change could do more harm than good.

Florence resident Steve Hondros quoted the biblical commandment to “observe the Sabbath and keep it holy” and said money isn’t all that matters in life.

“Just because the rest of the world’s doing it doesn’t make it right,” Hondros told council. “You don’t have to follow the lead of someone who’s going the wrong way.”

Florence is considering an ordinance to let voters decide on a referendum to allow Sunday alcohol sales only in restaurants within city limits. The referendum doesn’t apply to packaged alcohol sales.

The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce wrote in a letter to council that Rock Hill, Lexington and Santee recently accepted similar legislation.

Lake City City Council is considering a similar ordinance that passed first reading Thursday.

Hospitality Association of South Carolina President Tom Sponseller said Monday that a poll of active Florence city voters shows that 54 percent strongly approve of Sunday alcohol sales while 28 percent are strongly opposed. He said those figures could translate to a 64 percent to 66 percent win on a November referendum.

The poll was conducted by Crantford & Associates of Columbia.

Sponseller told council last month that allowing restaurants to sell alcohol on Sundays would increase sales by $650,000 a month.

Larry Norris said he worries that allowing Sunday alcohol sales will particularly hurt younger people.

“Do we need to send the kids a message that the Sabbath is like any other day?” he asked council.

Norris is a member of the Florence Hotel/Motel Association but wasn’t speaking on behalf of the group.

Tim Norwood, representing the chamber of commerce, told council “it does really get down to being business, and not personal.”

First reading of Florence’s ordinance passed 5-2 in a special called meeting last week. Mayor Frank Willis and councilman Rick Woodard voted against the measure.

Second and final reading of the ordinance will take place at a special called council meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday.

Also at Monday’s meeting, it was announced that the Florence’s Mayor’s Coalition to Prevent Juvenile Crime has received the Municipal Achievement Award in the public service category from the Municipal Association of South Carolina.

Councilman Ed Robinson congratulated Willis, who was defeated by Stephen J. Wukela in the city’s Democratic mayoral primary.

“You have been the most progressive black mayor,” Robinson, who is black, told Willis, who is white.

The audience broke into laughter.

“Did I just get a promotion?” Willis asked.

In other business, council:

• Unanimously approved first reading of an ordinance to borrow an additional $400,000, for a total of $1,025,000 in state loan funding, to pay for the cleanup of the former Bush Recycling Center site off North Irby Street.
• Recognized the Florence International Basketball Association for winning a bronze medal at the 42nd International Children’s Games in San Francisco.
• Recognized the Florence Phantoms for winning the 2008 American Indoor Football Association championship.
• Voted unanimously to write a letter supporting the naming of the Florence Veterans Clinic to honor Maj. Julian D. Dusenbury of the Marines.
• Reappointed John Etheridge to the city’s Housing Authority Board.