An ordinance detailing the sale and serving of cold alcoholic drinks in the city was the top discussion Tuesday night during a worksession of the Heflin City Council. Four local business people attended the meeting which included questions and a discussion of Heflin’s proposed ordinance modeled on a mix of regulations from Tuscaloosa, Anniston, Oxford and Jacksonville. With much interest being shown, Heflin Mayor Anna Berry urged the council to look over the document and be prepared to approve it next month. Mayor Berry pointed out that most of the 18-page ordinance includes ABC rules and state code. She said those seeking a license in the city must go to the ABC Board first, get their approval and come back to the city for a public hearing and the council’s final approval. The document does require liquor liability insurance of $100,000 . Businesses seeking a license must also have a specified net worth and pay a local filing fee, now proposed at $50. The mayor also noted that licenses in Heflin will be based on a percentage of food sales, meaning that an establishment must serve a percentage of prepared food. A facility can have a bar, dance floor or pool tables but must also serve food as defined by state law. In open council the city leaders: *Appointed Shawn Taylor to the planning commission. *Approved a budget. *Approved Standard Operating Procedures presented by new fire chief Brad Brower. In the work session Brower said the document was not completely finished, it is a work in progress, but the old department by-laws “are out.” Councilman Curtis Turner asked if “the rest of the department” was in agreement with the SOPs which are a mix of Oxford and Anniston, Carrollton and Atlanta, GA fire department regulations. Brower said the document is not complete and Turner expressed concern over voting for something that is not. Brower also told the council that of the calls over the past month, the department is averaging about the same number of volunteer responders as the same time a year ago. Former councilman Shannon Roberts spoke in support of the fire department and urged the council to “listen to the wishes of the people” and allow them to use their old by-laws. “Think what is best for the department. What is best for our town, best for our city? Tell us why we’re in better shape (with former fire chief gone). Another resident said police officers deserve a raise and fire fighters deserve their by-laws. Berry asked that those needing answers should come to her office and said Brower was not there in the regular meeting to answer questions. She said the matter of her appointing Brower and doing away with the old by-laws will not be discussed at every council meeting.
She said decisions were made on information the public does not have.
About Wayne Ruple
Cleburne News editor Wayne Ruple is a native of Ashville. Before coming to Heflin, he worked for three years as a computer systems manager in Birmingham. Ruple has worked for The Sand Mountain Reporter in Albertville, and was the editor of The Independent in Robertsdale. He has also worked for the Shades Valley Sun, the St. Clair News-Aegis and The Daily Home in Talladega.
