Perry will start alcohol sales Sunday

PERRY -- During a called meeting Tuesday, Perry City Council approved an ordinance that will allow Sunday liquor sales at the same times as neighboring Warner Robins.

Beginning this Sunday, liquor can be sold within Perry city limits between 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Sunday, the maximum time frame set forth by state statute, City Manager Lee Gilmour said.

“The entire intention of mayor and council is, whatever state statute allows, that’s what they’ll do,” Gilmour said. “It’s what the voters authorized is how they look at it.”

Centerville, Perry and Warner Robins voters approved Nov. 8 proposals to allow Sunday package sales in their respective municipalities. Warner Robins and Perry voters also approved “by the drink” referendums. Businesses in unincorporated Houston County cannot sell alcohol on Sundays, since county commissioners did not put the matter before voters this year.

Warner Robins City Council approved an ordinance Monday that set the same window for sales. Councilmen Tom Simms Jr. and Bob Wilbanks said they would’ve preferred a shorter time frame, from 1-8 p.m.

Ahead of Perry’s Tuesday the vote, other Warner Robins councilmen contended that Centerville and Perry businesses would have an advantage over Warner Robins businesses if the time frame were shorter.

Gilmour said Perry City Council never considered a shortened Sunday sales time frame.

Patty Johnson, who recently reopened the New Perry Hotel and Tavern, said she agreed with the times Perry City Council set.

“If someone is there watching a football game, they can stay -- which is important to people,” she said. “They don’t want to be told that they have to leave.”

Johnson said she is looking forward to increased business on Sundays and Saturday nights. Before Tuesday’s vote, it was against Perry city law to sell liquor past midnight Saturday. Now, “last call” will be at 2 a.m.

Warner Robins patrons will also be allowed to drink until 2 a.m. when they go out on Saturday night, per the ordinance Warner Robins City Council passed.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Perry City Council unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement that will allow the Houston County commissioners to call for a March vote on a sales tax continuation.

The commissioners estimate a renewal of the six-year special purpose local option sales tax will generate about $155 million.

Davis Cosey, a Perry resident and business owner, once again proposed that the city earmark money from the 2012 SPLOST for an animal shelter addition.

“I wish we had more time between announcements and the finalization,” Cosey said.

The project list must be completed before the commissioners vote Monday to call for the SPLOST.

“I’m sure there are other projects, groups, people that would like to bring their ideas and talk about it,” Cosey said.

To contact writer Christina M. Wright, call 256-9685.

This story was originally published November 23, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Perry will start alcohol sales Sunday."