SCOTT CITY COUNCIL DEFEATS SUNDAY LIQUOR SALES DESPITE STATE MANDATE

SCOTT CITY -- An ordinance allowing the sale of liquor on Sunday in Scott City was defeated Monday night, even though city officials say the council has no power to prevent merchants from selling liquor on Sunday.

With three of the council members absent from the meeting, Ward 1 Councilwoman Brenda Moyers' single no vote prevented the ordinance from receiving a majority.

"If I thought we could stop (it), I'd vote no, too," said Ward 1 Councilwoman Ladonna Phelps.

A state law repealing the prohibition of Sunday liquor sales took effect early this month when it was signed by Gov. Mel Carnahan.

Individual municipalities have no authority to supersede the law, according to city officials. But many cities like Scott City are rushing through ordinances to enable them to collect sales taxes and license fees on the liquor sales.

City Attorney Francis Siebert advised the council that it could present the ordinance for passage again at the next regular meeting.

Licenses for Sunday liquor sales will cost distributors $100.

In other council business, Mayor Larry Forhan informed the council that the city did not receive the Community Block Grant it had applied for early this year.

"I guess we just weren't high enough on their charts," Forhan said. "But it would be to our advantage to apply again next year it doesn't cost anything and it would be helpful in rebuilding some areas of the city."

Forhan also announced that the newly-formed Emergency Response Committee met for the first time "and went real well."

Heads of the fire and police departments met with city officials, concerned citizens and a representative from the Missouri State Department of Public Safety to compile a list of emergency procedures which could be followed in case of a natural disaster.

"We have people currently making an inventory of people in the area with medical expertise, four-wheel drive vehicles, heavy equipment and other much-needed services in disaster-relief situations.

Forhan said the committee plans to meet about once a month until a disaster plan is in place.

The council also had a somewhat heated discussion about uniforms for teams in the city youth baseball and softball leagues.

"The city provides shirts and caps to all the players, but a coach came to the Park Committee and told us that his players are wearing jeans, shorts and sweat pants to the games," said Ward 4 Councilman Norman Brant. "He asked if the city would buy pants for the players."

Brant and several other council members were adamant about players not having to be responsible for the purchase of their uniform pants.

"But a few coaches won't go around at the end of the year and collect the uniforms," Brant said. "That's where you lose your pants."

Phelps maintained that anything which was to be purchased for the boys had to be purchased for the girls' teams too.

"We want this to be fair and equal for all the children," Moyers echoed. "That's what all this is for the children."

Even though council members agreed that uniform uniforms would be attractive and perhaps boost the morale of the teams, they took no action.

Finally, the council adopted the fiscal 1993-94 budget in a unanimous vote.