Pastor to speak to Florence City Council about Sunday alcohol sales

A local church leader will speak Monday to Florence City Council about the effort to vote down a referendum that could allow Sunday alcohol sales at restaurants within city limits.

Southside Baptist Church pastor Jim Crooks is scheduled to speak to city council about the “Keep Sunday Safe & Sober — Vote No” initiative.

Crooks and other opponents of the referendum recently launched the Web site http://votenoflorence.com, which states their reasons for standing against Sunday alcohol sales.

Crooks has said he opposes the referendum because of public safety concerns and not just moral reasons.

Florence City Council voted last month to approve a referendum that, if passed by city voters, would allow restaurants in the city to apply for permits to sell alcohol on Sundays. The referendum doesn’t apply to packaged alcohol sales.

Also Monday, a representative from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control will present council with information on a smoke-free ordinance for the city.

No such ordinance is under consideration, Mayor Frank Willis said. Council discussed the issue a few years ago but no actual proposal was made, he said.

Monday’s council agenda also includes second and final reading of an amendment to establish the Wilson Road Residential Overlay District. Council, however, is waiting to receive a recommendation from the city planning commission before taking its final vote. The commission will consider the issue after a public hearing and executive session Tuesday.

Residents of the community have requested the overlay, which would allow no duplexes, multifamily units or town homes. Developers, however, have voiced their opposition and say the pending ordinance limits what they can do with their land in the area.

Council also will take its final vote Monday on borrowing an additional $400,000, for a total of $1,025,000 from the S.C. Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund, to pay for the cleanup of the former Bush Recycling Center site off North Irby Street.

The total cleanup cost is about $1.4 million because of unexpected findings, city officials have said.

Council also will hold second and final reading of an ordinance to transfer two city-owned buildings to the Florence Downtown Development Corp., a city-established nonprofit that plans to market the properties.

The corporation has asked for the building at 117 and 119 S. Dargan St. as well as the former Carolina Theater, at 129 S. Dargan St.

Monday’s meeting also will include a staff report on a request for $74,600 to replace the roof at the Florence Boys & Girls Club. The city couldn’t find money to fund the repairs in its recent budget, but could use unappropriated Community Development Block Grant funding worth $74,507.85 for the project, city documents state.

A public hearing would have to be conducted before council makes a decision on the matter.

IF YOU’RE GOING

WHAT: Florence City Council regular meeting

WHEN: 1 p.m. Monday

WHERE: Florence City-County Complex Room 604, 180 N. Irby St.

INFO: Call Clerk to City Council Dianne Rowan at (843) 665-3177.