Town Alderman Brad Orman introduced the ordinance Tuesday night.
The proposed law would drastically change two areas of how alcohol is currently sold in the Fair City: 1) It would allow alcoholic beverages “containing low or high alcoholic content” to be sold on Sundays between noon and 10 p.m., and 2) It would allow restaurants to sell alcoholic drinks.
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Alcohol is only sold at Franklinton grocery and convenience stores Monday through Saturday.
The proposed ordinance comes on the heels of an announcement that the new Bogue Chitto State Park could open in the next few months and an economic impact study of alcohol sales conducted by Southeastern Louisiana University.
“Combined, the two proposed changes to Franklinton’s regulations are estimated to increase sales revenues of Franklinton businesses by $463,696 (annually) and provide earnings of $160,258, which would support approximately 9.6 jobs,” according to the SLU study. “The increased sales revenue would lead to an increase in Franklinton’s sales tax collections of an estimated $12,612.”
Nearly all of the town aldermen seemed in favor of the ordinance when it was introduced Tuesday.
“Where we’re coming from is strictly income,” said Alderman Florence Manning.
And that income could be even greater than what was stated in the SLU study, which estimated 82,039 people will visit the new state park each year. Manning said she thinks the park will receive quite a bit more visitors than that.
New alcohol laws could also bring in new business, said Orman. Restaurants like Chili’s or Applebee’s may be willing to come to Franklinton if they can sell alcohol.
“They won’t come without that,” Orman said.
Alderman Richard Dillon was the lone dissenter at Tuesday’s meeting, voting “no” to introduce the ordinance.
After the meeting, he said new laws concerning alcohol should really come from the public before being decided by the board.
New Alcohol laws should “not just be pushed through by the council,” Dillon said.
Officials are also going to have to sit down and define exactly what is a “restaurant,” Dillon said.
One thing the aldermen said they don’t want is any bars popping up in Franklinton. They all seemed to agree on that.
Mayor Wayne Fleming said a public hearing on the alcohol ordinance is scheduled for Sept. 8 at 6:15 p.m. at Town Hall. The board may vote on the ordinance at a meeting following the public hearing.
Comments
Hello McFly wrote on Sep 8, 2009 9:57 AM:
Hello McFLY wrote on Sep 8, 2009 9:29 AM:
Reality Check wrote on Sep 4, 2009 4:52 PM:
Cholly wrote on Sep 4, 2009 4:18 PM:
Cigarettes kill more than booze wrote on Sep 4, 2009 3:58 PM:
I have a wrote on Sep 4, 2009 3:49 PM:
I guess it would be bad if you had drunk drivers traveling both east and west huh. I guess as long as you travel west you will be traveling along with all the drunks leaving bogalusa. But if you drive east you will have to face them head on. LOL I don't mean to laugh, but some peoples thinking is crazy. do people really think that not selling alcohol INSIDE the city limits of Franklinton is going to stop drunk driving. People will drink no matter where alcohol is sold. "
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 3, 2009 12:20 PM:
Jim S. wrote on Sep 3, 2009 10:46 AM:
9.6 new jobs in Franklinton.. Do these figures include new law enforcement officers and patrol cars? How about extra EMS people for accidents? Lets look at the total picture! A moderate drink ,will the restaurants employee's give breath analyzer test to see if they can serve you more alcohol before you drive? "
Curious wrote on Sep 3, 2009 8:33 AM:
paul dodds wrote on Sep 3, 2009 7:48 AM:
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 2, 2009 2:18 PM:
... Keep 'em coming! This is GREAT! "
joe wrote on Sep 2, 2009 11:30 AM:
connie wrote on Sep 2, 2009 9:51 AM:
AriesTaurus wrote on Sep 2, 2009 6:28 AM:
Fay wrote on Sep 2, 2009 5:42 AM:
A.T. wrote on Sep 1, 2009 10:47 PM:
franklinton resident wrote on Sep 1, 2009 9:48 PM:
Liz wrote on Sep 1, 2009 5:41 PM:
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 1, 2009 1:06 PM:
thought wrote on Sep 1, 2009 7:29 AM:
Thought wrote on Sep 1, 2009 7:23 AM:
thought wrote on Sep 1, 2009 7:16 AM:
You sound like our government. Next, ban chocolate because it makes people overweight. Then guns they kill people. Then fast cars they kill people. Then what?? People have to make choices in life. Taking away those things don't change the people. ED have you ever had a drink of alcohol??? Jesus did, but within moderation. I am a STRONG CHRISTIAN!! I don't drink anymore but I have before. I won't put blinders on and act like it doesn't happen. People will buy it on sunday if they want it, either on saturday or SOMEWHERE ELSE. "
Anti Hypocrite wrote on Aug 31, 2009 10:18 PM:
To say we need to put a casino in the parish because we allow alcohol consumption shows your ignorance and intolerance. "
Cholly wrote on Aug 31, 2009 7:23 PM:
Hate stupidity wrote on Aug 31, 2009 7:13 PM:
Jim S. wrote on Aug 31, 2009 5:40 PM:
Having said that, then leads to a liquior by the ounce debates at lounges. Someone several years ago tried to get a drive through daquiri shop in Franklinton. Does Franklinton need the money that badly? "
oh brother wrote on Aug 31, 2009 5:08 PM:
Sure, alcohol sales are high and a source of revenue. So tax it more in town.
If the TOWN would be willing to count the number of deaths in the whole of Washington Parish due to alcohol and publish their findings publicly, I would be willing to consider a discussion about changing the current law in "just the town." Then I would ask for the number of persons from Washington Parish who were involved in alcohol related "incidents" (not just car crashes) and ask that those findings be published. "
Edmond Chandler wrote on Aug 31, 2009 12:06 PM:
I am thankful for this! Bar Rooms, Drinking, Alcohol, Smoking, Drugs, ... Gambling, even cigarettes should be BANNED!
Where do you draw the line... and HOLD THAT LINE!
... already too much compromise is prevalent! "
Edmond Chandler wrote on Aug 31, 2009 11:49 AM:
... raise taxes on CIGARETTES HIGHER ... this would be a help to people who need to quit smoking themselves into the grave.
... I STAND OPPOSED TO ALCOHOL IN WASHINGTON PARISH! "
Edmond Chandler wrote on Aug 31, 2009 11:32 AM:
... These are luke-warm uncommitted people... hardly Christians.... This is COMPROMISE! CHRISTIANS MUST STAND AGAINST DRINKING ALCOHOL!
... It is my opinion that people who drink alcohol, should not call themselves Christians! Where does it stop? Is DOPE alright, too? Is smoking alright, too?
... Christians are to be a "separated people" ...unto our Lord!
... Our Churches must stand against this ... We do NOT need this tainted money! "
RB wrote on Aug 31, 2009 11:28 AM:
No Brainer in Ga. "
Memo wrote on Aug 30, 2009 11:42 AM:
Greed has nothing to do with this. Alcohol sales will bring money into Franklinton that is much needed. The town needs that money to operate on. This won’t cause more beer bottles by the river. Also, you can be a Christian and have a drink too. Many people in churches enjoy drinks from time to time.
Edmond Paul Chandler,
Franklinton isn’t building a tax base on alcohol sales. They would be helping some businesses to grow, which is what you suggested. Alcohol sales in restaurants is not going to increase the crime rate. You can buy "
just a thought wrote on Aug 29, 2009 11:31 AM:
The trash could be cleaned up real easy on the river. You know how. Each person that shows up to float the river with an ice chest. The owner of the tubing place count how many cans they have in their ice chest. The owner tells them that for every can that doesn't come back will cost them $5 dollars per can. Also every can they bring back over what they took floating they will be rewarded $2 dollars. That would eliminate the problem. Owners need to enforce it. "
Just a Thought wrote on Aug 29, 2009 11:24 AM:
Finally wrote on Aug 29, 2009 8:37 AM:
Ms. T wrote on Aug 28, 2009 4:19 PM:
What would allowing alcohol at a restaurant have to do with beer bottles and cans being thrown by the river? The kind of people who you are talking about doing this don't even typically go to these kinds of restaurants! It's this close-minded thinking that has Franklinton stuck in a time warp. We can't even get a Wal-Mart here but the businesses here want to close at 12 on Saturday and still close at 12 on Wednesday! This is why so many people of the younger generation pack up and move right after graduation! WAKE UP!!! "
Ms. T wrote on Aug 28, 2009 4:05 PM:
OLD TIMER wrote on Aug 28, 2009 2:33 PM:
No disrespect intended, but please a "nice, clean, Christian town?" Are we talking about the same Washington Parish the board is. You better open your eyes, because those same folks that are singing in the choir on Sunday morning have been spotted out on Saturday night in the local bar rooms. Wake up, and the smell the beer. It will happen, because you all need the attraction for new businesses. "
Edmond Paul Chandler wrote on Aug 28, 2009 2:01 PM:
Liz Stokes wrote on Aug 28, 2009 11:09 AM: