An ordinance ending prohibition on Sunday alcohol sales in package stores, bars and restaurants in Hopkinsville was approved at Tuesday’s meeting of the Hopkinsville City Council.
The unanimous approval on first-reading came following discussion by councilmembers, including councilmember Terry Parker, who recommended changing the cut off hour for sales of 1 a.m. each day to 2 a.m., allowing local businesses to compete with businesses in Clarksville.
That amendment was approved unanimously. The measure as a whole is an amendment to an ordinance established in 1959 and would allow the sale of alcohol beginning at 11 a.m. on Sundays—like it is any other day of the week—but it would keep the prohibition on sales on Christmas Day and during any election day.
In other action, council also approved retention stipends for city employees who retained their employment from March 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible city employees meeting the criteria could receive a one-time stipend of up to a maximum of $4,000, minus any required taxes.
This was also approved unanimously, with councilmember Alethea West thanking employees for their hard work and the dedication to excellent service they have for this community, urging them to keep it up.
A municipal order was also approved authorizes the use of up to nearly $1.2 million of American Rescue Plan funds to go towards those stipends.