Preps are underway for a festival that was actually supposed to take place two months ago. That festival is coincidentally referred to as the “Juneteenth” and it celebrates the end of slavery in America.

Florence City Council will meet Thursday morning to take a final vote regarding a proposed alcohol referendum and hear a request to buy a downtown building for the Florence Museum of Art, Science and History.

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

Florence City Council has introduced an ordinance that would let Florence voters decide whether to lift a ban on Sunday alcohol sales at licensed restaurants in the city.

Florence City Council directed city staff at Monday’s regular meeting to prepare an ordinance for a referendum that would allow Sunday alcohol sales at licensed restaurants.

Florence City Council has given its final approval to the city’s proposed $68 million budget for fiscal year 2008-09, which includes an increase in franchise fees.

Florence City Council has rescheduled its regular meeting for this month.

Florence is considering a measure that would divide the cost of a new water tap fee into installments after the price for new tap connections tripled for some customers.

Florence City Council has given unanimous approval to the first reading of the city’s $68 million proposed budget, which includes increases in franchise fees for cable, electricity and natural gas but not in property taxes.