Should the city remain dry? That's a question the City Council will answer when it makes a decision on off-premise beer sales at its July 11 7 p.m. meeting.
When Western Market recently purchased the former Hamblin's Food Town, 1722 S. 2000 West, it asked the city about a beer license after some customers requested the store sell beer.With only one store in the city, this was an issue the city hadn't dealt with before.
"Most people were under the impression that you cannot sell it here," Dana Love, councilwoman, said, explaining that isn't case.
She said the city has had an alcoholic beverage ordinance since 1971, but no one previously wanted to sell beer in the city.
The City Council held a public hearing on the issue Tuesday, and approximately 75 people turned out. In the end, only one citizen attending spoke in favor of beer sales.
Love said she personally believes the store would make a mistake if it sells beer.
"I think people will support them (the store) more without the sale of beer . . . Citizens like the alcohol-free influence here.
Love said after the store approached the city, it discovered its alcoholic beverage ordinance was far out of date, having been drafted 24 years ago. The ordinance has now been updated to conform to state law for on-premise sales, but cities have to decide themselves the details for off-premise sales.
Kathy Holt, assistant city recorder, said since beer hadn't been sold in Syracuse, the public hearing generated a lot of interest and the vast majority of opinion is to continue as a dry city.
The City Council will discuss the beer ordinance in a work meeting prior to the council meeting.
- Syracuse isn't the only city without beer sales on the west side of north Davis County. Clinton lacks stores and thus has no beer sales.
West Point also has few businesses and has never had beer sales before either. However, the City Council did grant a conditional use request for the sale of alcohol at the new Schneiter's Bluff Golf Course. Mayor Howard Stoddard said he's not certain if the course has ever actually decided to sell beer at its clubhouse or not.