Members of the Athens City Council on Thursday were prepared to be berated over a proposal related to the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sunday but heard from only one citizen.

“Please give the people of Athens the option that when they go out to eat on Sunday, they can have a glass of wine or tea,” said Kelly Range. “You know where I’m coming from and that’s all I’ve got to say.”

The council would later unanimously approve a resolution asking the eight-member Limestone County Legislative Delegation for its assistance in the matter.

“I’m big on this vote because it gets the conversation going,” said City Council President Joseph Cannon. “We’ve had some whispers, but this gets the conversation to where we have to talk about it.”

Councilman Harold Wales, who introduced the resolution, said he recognizes there are citizens who oppose Sunday sales for moral reasons. He explained, however, he believes the city should have Sunday sales to bring in additional revenue.

Wales added he believes Sunday sales will be necessary to protect existing restaurants and businesses in addition to attracting new merchants.

“It’s a revenue issue for the city of Athens,” he said. “I’m doing what I think is best for Athens.”

Wales said he feared that if the council didn’t act, it could lose Buffalo Wild Wings, which is now under construction at the Eastside Junction LLC development near the intersection of U.S. 72 and Lindsay Lane. Mayor Ronnie Marks quickly put those fears to rest.

The mayor explained when he met with BWW owners Jim and Nancy Bruno, they expressed disappointment the city didn’t already have Sunday sales. He added the owners have not expressed a desire to “build this and walk out the door” over alcohol sales. BWW announced Wednesday they are now hiring 75 to 100 workers.

“The Brunos have been in the business for 40-something years (and) there’s a 25 percent revenue difference (in towns where Sunday alcohol sales are permitted),” Marks said. “Sunday sales are very important to (the Brunos).”

The resolution

The resolution, as approved by the council, reads as follows:

“The Athens City Council requests that the Limestone County Legislative Delegation cause the Alabama Legislature to adopt a local law that would authorize the City Council … to regulate and permit the sale of alcoholic beverages on certain hours on Sundays by properly licensed retail licensees serving the general public in the city, subject to ordinances and regulations adopted by the City Council …”

City Attorney Shane Black explained the way the state code was set up for Sunday sales, cities cannot sale alcohol on Sunday unless it is approved by the State Legislature. The city is requesting the local legislative delegation to enact the local law so the council may then adopt it. If the city then chooses to adopt Sunday sales, it would then go back to the Legislature for final approval and to be signed into law by Gov. Robert Bentley.

Marks said he doesn’t anticipate the council being able to vote on the matter before mid-May or early June. The next legislative session begins Feb. 7 and will last 105 calendar days. He explained the months in between the votes would allow the council a chance to have public hearings on the issue and receive feedback.

Wales asked if there was any chance the bill could get hung up in a legislative committee, but Marks said he anticipated a straightforward process.

“If you’ve got a House member and a senator willing to carry the bill … I don’t remember any opposition to that,” Marks said. “… They understand it’s a state law process everybody has to walk through.”