Council may amend Sunday liquor ordinance

The New Prague City Council began the process of amending the city’s Sunday Liquor Ordinance, changing the starting time for sales of on-sale intoxicating liquor licenses to 10 a.m.

Mayor Chuck Nickolay had requested the issue be placed on the agenda at the Monday, April 15, meeting. He explained during a recent visit to Montgomery he found they have a 10 a.m. start time for serving liquor on Sunday. He believed it would be advantageous and benefit New Prague businesses that serve food and liquor. Currently the Sunday liquor law has hours of operation from noon to 1 a.m. Mayor Nickolay contacted several of the owners, including Steve Duban of Flipside Pub & Grill and Pat Glasby of Fishtale Grill and Bar, both of whom favored of the idea.

Glasby attended the council meeting and said it was not their intent to draw raucous crowds, but to help business. He estimated that sometimes 75 percent of their customers ask for a Bloody Mary on a Sunday.

Council member Pat Scripture asked if this would change the liquor license fee. Nickolay said no.

Council member Mark Bartusek asked if it was 10 a.m. or earlier on a weekday. Police Chief Mark Vosejpka responded that state statute has the start time at 8 a.m. on a weekday, although a city can have its own regulation about that time.

"I’m not in favor of it," Council member David Bruzek said. He felt people could wait two more hours to have a drink on Sunday. "There’s enough liquor in this town."

The proposal advanced on a 4-1 vote. The council will introduce the amendment process at its Monday, May 6, meeting with a public hearing to be held at its following Monday, May 20, meeting. If the council approves the amendment on May 20, it would go into effect 30 days later.