Athens residents will have 3 minutes to make their cases for or against legalizing the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sundays in Athens.

Athens City Council members will hold a special called meeting at 5 p.m. Monday so council members can hear comments from citizens about a proposal to amend the current alcohol ordinance and allow Sunday sales. Currently, alcohol sales are permitted only six days a week in Athens.

During the public hearing, residents will be allowed 3 minutes to state their support, opposition, concerns or comments about the proposal to legalize Sunday sales. The hearing will be held in the Council Chambers of City Hall at 200 W. Hobbs St. in downtown Athens.

The council will vote on the proposal at a later date.

There will be no public vote on legalizing Sunday sales since the council decided not to go that route. The council had asked the state Legislature last year for permission to vote directly on the issue. The Senate granted the request May 3 after the House approved.

Council President Joseph Cannon said the time restriction is to ensure a good, healthy public hearing.

“I would never cut someone off if they were making a great point,” he said. “I will not shut someone down unless they are up there making a spectacle or they are showboating.”

History, impact

Athens residents voted to legalize the sale of alcoholic beverages in the city for the first time in August 2003. The law, which went into effect Jan. 1, 2004, allowed alcohol to be sold Mondays through Saturdays but not on Sundays.

Mayor Ronnie Marks has said Sunday sales could boost alcohol revenue by as much as 20 percent, which is about $140,000 a year based on the city’s roughly $700,000 in annual alcohol sales tax and fees collections.

Half the alcohol money collected each year goes to city schools. The schools are currently using the money to repay the debt on the new $55 million high school over the next 30 years. The city uses its half to repay general fund debt.