Jackson likely will relax rules about package-liquor licenses

The city of Jackson is preparing to lift two ordinances restricting the issuance of package-liquor licenses.

The first, Section 5-31 of the city code of ordinances, prohibits people and corporations from holding more than three licenses to sell package liquor.

The second, Section 5-32, caps the number of total package-liquor licenses the city can issue.

Both are scheduled to be repealed during the next Jackson Board of Aldermen meeting Dec. 19.

Under current ordinances, the city is permitted to grant only one license per 1,000 city residents as measured by the most recent census.

Consumer habits, as well as population growth, have nearly caused the city to hit that limit.

City administrator Jim Roach said during a board of aldermen study session Monday night the city has issued all but one of its 14 allotted licenses.

Roach pointed out a lack of such a license could hinder area retailers.

The decision to ditch the ordinances comes as the city begins preparing to court retailers.

Earlier in the study session, a retail-recruitment consultant said one of the most promising opportunities his company identified for Jackson is the potential of some sort of grocery store.

One less licensing hurdle could help make the city more attractive to such businesses.

"If we were to get something like a grocery store, we'd want them to have the option to sell [alcoholic beverages in the package] if that's what they want to do," Roach said.

In recommending the ordinances be repealed, city attorney Tom Ludwig told the board the ordinances simply had become outdated.

"That was a law that was written at a time when no one had ever heard of a convenience store," he said. "These date back to the 1930s."

tgraef@semissourian.com

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