CALEDONIA — Caledonia aldermen are taking a request for a local restaurant to sell beer on Sundays under advisement.
At Tuesday”s board meeting, board members heard from Leslie Carnathan, owner of Mi Toro Restaurant.
Carnathan said she has enjoyed being in the town the past six months, and the town has a lot of potential.
“I would like to talk about a variance to the city”s ordinance to allow the sale of beer in our restaurant on Sundays. The economy has affected the restaurant business throughout,” she said.
By allowing the restaurant to sell beer on Sundays and throughout the week, Carnathan said her business would be able to compete with other restaurants.
“It would keep people in Caledonia from going to other restaurants,” she said.
The Caledonia beer ordinance was revised in 1983, Board Attorney Jeff Smith pointed out, and only allows sale of beer at retail establishments if “sold hot,” and no beer can be consumed on the premises of the establishment.
Additionally, beer cannot be sold within 1,500 feet of a school or church.
Town Clerk Judy Whitcomb said the only business in Caledonia allowed to sell beer is Cal City Grocery.
“It is sold there all week,” she said.
Carnathan noted communities such as Corinth and Tupelo have variances in their ordinances.
On Mayor George Gerhart”s recommendation, Alderman Quinn Parham made a motion to take the matter under advisement.
Other business
In other business the Caledonia board:
- Took bids for sidewalk work in town under advisement.
- Heard from Alderman Mike Savage about plans to implement a flag football league in Caledonia.
“It is for 16-year-olds, and is a non-contact league. It will be a good thing for our kids,” he said.
- Approved allowing Whitcomb to attend a clerk”s conference in Jackson Dec. 16-18.
- Whitcomb gave a report on Caledonia Day activities, held Oct. 24. She reported an income of $13,605.30, and expenses of $8,622.57.
“We made a profit of $4,980.72. We made $2,687.70 on t-shirt sales,” she said.
- Discussed plans for the upcoming Christmas Parade.
Allen Baswell was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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