AVOID THE RUSH: COUNCIL RIGHT IN DELAYING ACTION

The Cape Girardeau City Council acted properly Monday night in delaying first reading of an ordinance that would allow stores to sell package liquor on Sunday. While the ordinance simply mirrors a Missouri statute signed into law by Gov. Mel Carnahan Monday, we find the procedure of hurrying the measure onto the council agenda with no public notice to be contrary to good government. We are pleased the majority of council members saw it that way.

In our viewpoint, there were no shenanigans at work in raising the issue for council consideration. The intent was sincere ... to allow Cape Girardeau liquor, convenience and grocery stores to sell alcohol products on Sunday in a time frame with stores in other communities. However, putting the measure on the council agenda at the last minute gave Cape Girardeau residents no opportunity to voice possible concerns. True, the chance would have been available when second and third readings were heard by the council at a subsequent meeting, but those objections would be aired on the threshold of the measure's final passage.

As it stands now, thanks to a 4-3 vote Monday that stalled inclusion of the issue for that night's consideration, the council will hear a first reading of the Sunday liquor sales measure at its June 21 meeting; second and third readings will probably follow in July. On an issue of this nature, council members should have been aware that opposing viewpoints exist and that ample time is needed to allow their expression.

None of this speaks to the merit of the ordinance. We believe local merchants will be put at a disadvantage if the council decides not to follow the lead of the state law.

However, we believe these sorts of issues are enhanced as law when citizens feel they have had a proper opportunity to debate them. Perhaps no citizens will speak in opposition to this ordinance when it is presented in a more deliberate manner to the council. Perhaps there will be significant outcry to its passage. That's the point. Provided a "hurry-up" scenario, the council would have no read on this, and the ordinance would only generate resentment from those who feel the matter was railroaded into law instead of being roundly discussed.

We appreciate some council members' regard for giving local merchants every competitive advantage. However, Sunday sales of package liquor have been banned for decades in Missouri; allowing an extra couple of weeks for the sake of giving a complete hearing to all sides of the issue seems a fair allowance. Rushing this ordinance didn't serve the community.