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Good news for Sunday drinkers

Dade City will allow alcohol sales starting at 11 a.m. Sundays instead of 1 p.m.

By GINA PACE
Published January 10, 2007

DADE CITY - Alcohol can now be sold two hours earlier on Sundays in Dade City.

The City Commission voted 3-2 Tuesday evening to allow alcohol sales to begin at 11 a.m., rather than 1 p.m. The ordinance change brings the city in line with county rules that have allowed alcohol sales to begin at 11 a.m. since 2004.

The proposal came shortly after the December opening of Beef O'Brady's, a family-friendly sports pub in downtown Dade City.

Two Dade City pastors spoke against the measure, including Aaron Adams, pastor of Northside Baptist Church.

"I help drunks across Lock Street seven days a week to keep people from getting run over," Adams said. "It seems like to me that it is pouring gasoline on a fire that's already burning."

Scott Black was the only city commissioner to speak on the measure during Tuesday's meeting.

"I know that a new business in town is one of the reasons for this, but I'm not ready to jump on board with this ordinance," Black said.

Other commissioners cast their votes without offering explanation. Eunice Penix was the other commissioner who voted against the change.

In other news, the commission unanimously voted to approve a study to see if building a connector road between State Road 52 and U.S. 301 in the area of Morningside Drive is feasible.

Facing the prospect of growth in the city, there is an increasing need to identify an alternate east-west route before Meridian, Howard and Florida avenues became overrun, City Manager Harold Sample said.

The study, to be done by Coastal Engineering Associates, will cost almost $24,000, with an allowance of as much as $10,000 for extra services as needed by the city. The funding will come from transportation impact fees.

[Last modified January 9, 2007, 23:04:27]