Clarendon voters are one step closer to having a referendum on the November ballot that would allow the question of Sunday alcohol sales within the county.
County Council members voted unanimously on Monday night on the second reading of an ordinance that would allow the referendum, final approval of which must be to the state Election Commission by Aug. 15.
“We have to have three readings before that date,” said Chairman Dwight Stewart. “That is why we had the meeting last month and made first approval, and second approval this month. Third and final reading, if it passes, will be at our regular meeting in August.”
Stewart said council members could have held special meetings to address the issue, but they wanted to do everything during normal meetings to allow for public input.
“We wanted everyone to know and understand and have the opportunity to comment on this,” he said.
Just two people came forward, however, on Monday during a public hearing held before second reading. Silver resident Robert McFadden said he has no problem with the idea of Sunday alcohol sales personally, but that he felt the community had been left out of the decision to talk about a referendum in the first place.
“I was asked by some concerned citizens to speak on their behalf in regard to putting this on the ballot,” McFadden said. “When the time comes for elections, our local ministers and churches, they’re approached by county council for votes. So, why weren’t they involved in this decision? They want to know why they weren’t asked to be a part of this process?”
Stewart said that is the purpose of the meetings and the referendum, if it happens.
“The purpose of the meetings is to let the public have input and to know about the process, and the referendum will give them the opportunity to vote on the issue,” Stewart said.
McFadden asked council members what precipitated the idea of Sunday alcohol sales. Stewart said council was approached by the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce, which represents local business interests.
“They asked us if we would consider putting it on the ballot,” Stewart said. “County Council cannot just put something on the ballot. We have to have hearings and a public reading and advertise it in the newspaper. We have done all those things.”
McFadden said he thinks Sunday alcohol sales will be good for Clarendon’s economy “and will open doors in that area,” but still chided council that some forums or town hall meetings should have been held.
Local businessman Joey Moore was the second to speak. Though he has been out of the convenience store business for about 18 years, he said, his son continues to operate two stores in Clarendon County.
“I’m here on his behalf and speaking for myself,” Moore told council. “I think the majority of convenience store operators in the county would tell you this is something we would have tried years ago to do.”
Moore called Sunday sales a “plus” for the county economy and employment.
“This would lead to economic growth because a lot of people who come through the county, those who want to come and live here, they want restaurants that serve a beer or glass of wine on Sunday,” Moore said. “They want to be able to buy those items on Sunday from a store.”
Moore, the former owner of the Western Steer in Manning, said that he was one of the few proprietors of such stores in South Carolina who was able to sell alcohol.
“Although those weren’t Sunday sales, I noticed that we had a lot of people come through the county, and off Interstate 95, and they would come in and want that beer or glass of wine with dinner,” he said. “Sunday sales would allow different businesses to come in, such as a corporate franchise. Those looking at a piece of property are more likely to come here if they can have those sales on Sunday.”
Moore said when he gets inquiries on properties he owns, Sunday alcohol sales is one of the questions prospective buyers have.
“I think this an important step to make to help in that decision-making for these companies,” Moore said. “Especially when counties around us like Berkeley, Orangeburg, Florence and Sumter have this ability.”
“It makes a difference as far as who we compete with,” Moore said.
Epperson said that, if Sunday alcohol sales makes the November ballot and, ultimately, if voters pass such a referendum, then communities within Clarendon County who do not currently sell alcohol will not have to sell it on Sunday.
“This allows residents to decide whether they would allow businesses who currently have alcohol permits to be able to apply for an additional permit or amend their current permit to sell alcohol on Sundays,” Epperson said. “This will not require any business, if it passes in November, to sell on Sunday, if a business because of their beliefs or overall business does not want to sell on Sunday.”
He said that it would also not require businesses in Turbeville to sell on Sunday. Currently, Turbeville has a town ordinance that prohibits the sale of alcohol within town limits, barring stores and restaurants from any alcohol sales.
“Since none of the Turbeville businesses currently have alcohol licenses, they wouldn’t be able to apply for a Sunday permit anyway, so it wouldn’t affect them,” Epperson said.
He said a business that comes into Clarendon County several years down the road would have to apply for a regular alcohol permit before then applying for the special Sunday permit, should the referendum pass.
“To the best of my knowledge, a business owner would have to have that regular permit first, and then there are several types of special permits to sell on Sunday,” Epperson said. “There’s a temporary permit, and there’s a way to convert your regular permit to a Sunday permit. But they’d have to have the regular permit first.”
Third and final reading will be held at 6 p.m. Aug. 8 at council chambers at the Clarendon Administration Building on Sunset Drive.
