Argo Town Council held a first reading to amend two ordinances at its Monday, May 5, meeting that would allow for on-site alcohol sales and reduce the required distance between establishments selling alcohol and schools and churches.In an e-mail sent Wednesday, May 7, Councilman Bill Rutledge said the potential for opening a restaurant in Argo would be beneficial to the town’s growth.
At a previous meeting, a prospective restaurant owner had presented the council with the idea of having a family-style Mexican seafood restaurant at a location just off U.S. Hwy. 11.
The restaurant would offer outdoor seating, a lounge area and live music to involve the community. The owner also wants to be able to serve alcohol at the restaurant.
There were two problems with moving the restaurant to Argo, and the council has drafted amendments to the two ordinances that would allow the restaurant to open.
The first change would be to allow the sale of alcohol for on-premises consumption at establishments such as restaurants.
The other amendment would allow the sale of alcohol within 1,000 feet of a church or school, when the ordinance previously stated there must be 1,500 feet between a church or school and a building where alcohol is sold.
This amendment is being proposed because the location the developer and restaurant owner have chosen is less than 1,500 feet away from the new Solid Rock Lutheran Church on U.S. Hwy. 11.
Rutledge said this was a big decision for the council to make, and has requested that the residents of Argo express their opinions about the issue before the next reading and possible vote on the ordinance in June.
“I don’t think we should make this decision without the input of the residents,” Rutledge said. “I think we should have had a town meeting to determine the temperament of the citizens and get as much feedback on the matter as possible. For the town, it is a potential opportunity from a sales tax and growth standpoint. However, once the change is made, it will allow for others to offer this same type of establishment near any church or school within Argo town limits.”
He said of the 25 or 30 Argo residents who have contacted him so far, about 90 percent of them do not have a problem with the change to allow on-site consumption, but they do have a problem with reducing the distance between churches and schools and buildings where alcohol is sold.
Also during the meeting, Argo Fire Chief Mike Platts explained why the department had decided to go with wooden lockers when requesting new lockers for the storage of uniforms and other necessary items.
Councilman William Leake had made a motion to purchase 14 lockers for $3,500, or $250 a piece to be used at the fire station.
Councilwoman Linda McCoy asked if those were the most affordable lockers available and Platts said they were because steel lockers would have been more expensive by about $80 a locker.
The motion passed by a 6-0 vote to purchase the new lockers.
The council also:
O Converted one position in the fire department to full-time in anticipation of opening a new station at the new municipal complex on Blackjack Road.
O Heard a report from Councilwoman Cheryl Lee that a recent road block raised $1,200 for the park fund, raffles for quilts and signed footballs are still taking place and the ice cream social planned for May will have to be rescheduled.
O Announced a position is opening on the Planning and Zoning Board in June and applications will be taken at Town Hall.
O Approved the purchase of software for municipal court use.
O Approved amendments to its business license fee ordinance.
O Approved its zoning ordinance after a few minor amendments.
O Approved an ordinance making the speed limit on all roads that are property of Argo 25 miles per hour.
O Approved amendments to an ordinance holding developers accountable for road conditions during the development of a subdivision.
O Approved an ordinance that will join Argo with the Moody sewer system already in place.
