The Winchester Board of Commissioners took the final step to expanding Sunday alcohol sales in the city at its meeting Tuesday night.

After several public comments supporting and opposing the measure, the commission voted 3-2 on the final reading of an ordinance that allows wineries, distilleries, breweries and microbreweries to serve alcohol from 1 to 10 p.m. on Sundays.

Restaurants in Winchester were already allowed to serve alcohol by the drink between the hours of 1 and 10 p.m. on Sundays, based on an ordinance that passed in 2013.

The new ordinance passed on the first reading at the commission meeting two weeks ago.

Resident Foster Taulbee spoke in opposition of the ordinance. He asked the commission to postpone the vote on the ordinance until a special election could be held allowing the community to vote on the ordinance.

“Let the people of the community make the decision,” he said. “If they say, ‘yes’ in a vote, then your decision is easy. If they say, ‘no’ in a vote, then your decision is easy.”

Cassandra Jude presented the commission with a petition of 216 signatures from residents who oppose the expansion of Sunday alcohol sales.

Jude said she objects to having Sunday sales of alcohol anywhere in Winchester, including restaurants and the expansion approved Tuesday.

She said alcohol is a gateway to drug use for young people who are already struggling.

“We already have such a problem with drugs in our community,” she said. “To me, this is just adding fuel to the flame for our young people.”

She said not everyone who opposed the ordinance was able to be at the meeting to express their opinion, which is why she submitted the petition.

“Not everyone is for this extra alcohol sales on Sunday,” she said. “We may not all be here tonight. I hope you’ll think about the majority of the people and how they are opposed to this. It’s not just about those who scream the loudest. Sometimes the quiet people can’t be here, but their voice counts too.”

Marianne Haggard also opposed Sunday sales, complaining about the noise and disturbances from Abettor Brewery, which is adjacent to her property.

“Really, the decision you made previous to this meeting, you’ve not suffered from it,” she said. “The music and the loud noise until 1 a.m. None of you have suffered from it. There are 10 residents and three businesses… those residents are the ones that suffer from the city’s decision to allow it. They keep talking about fairness… if that was the case, we’d have three and a half days with alcohol and three and a half without it. We already give them six days.”

Laura Freeman, owner of Wildcat Willy’s Distillery in downtown Winchester, said the debate should not be about whether or not people should use alcohol, but about helping local businesses.

“We’re only talking about opening on Sunday afternoon,” she said. “It’s open six other days a week anyway. We are at a disadvantage in Winchester to Lexington. I’m just trying to level the playing field so that this county can develop like people say they want.”

Christopher Benavides said the discussion should not center on whether alcohol is good or bad, but about whether the ordinance could create a more level playing field for local businesses.

“We’re talking about this ordinance that says these craftspeople can sell their goods on Sunday,” he said. “We’re not trying to create a level playing field for Winchester versus Cynthiana or versus Lexington, we’re just seeing what other counties have done, and we want Winchester to have the opportunity to really take full advantage of what we can possibly do.”

The commissioner and mayor made no comments themselves on the matter before voting.

Commissioners JoEllen Reed and Shannon Cox cast the dissenting votes. Mayor Ed Burtner and commissioners Kitty Strode and Ramsey Flynn voted in favor of the ordinance.

In other business, the commission:

— Voted to keep the tax rates the same as last year, which is 14.6 percent for real and 14.99 percent for personal property.

— Heard a presentation from Campbell Junior High School student Landon Runyon who is packing “Hope Boxes” to help children with autism and sensory processing disorder. Details on the project are still being finalized, Runyon told the commission, but the plan is to have a packing day and to accept donations from the community.

— Recognized the STRIDE Bulldogs softball team for winning a gold medal in a Special Olympics tournament held in Bowling Green.

— Approved a request to close Main Street for the Clark County Public Schools homecoming parade Thursday night.

— Released a penalty assessed against JW’s Pizza LLC (Domino’s) for a late payroll tax payment.

— Approved an agreement with Marysville Community and Technical College Emergency Medical Care Program.

— Approved a contract of sale between the city and Carl Gravett for property on Lincoln Street as part of the Lincoln Street redevelopment project phase 1.

— Approved an order directing an attorney to seek foreclosure on properties located at 16, 46 and 22 Lincoln St.

— Approved a contract of sale between the city and Shelby Lynn and Sabrina C. Toler for the property at 32 Lincoln St.

— Approved an order declaring an emergency and awarding a bid for $32,880 to Diversified Demolition for demolition of the property at 66 Wall St.

— Hired Kristin Winters as a patient transfer specialist-EMT.

— Hired Jacob Walson as patrolman III.

— Hired Logan Hall as a patient transfer specialist-EMT.

— Hired Jocelyn Bartmess as a part-time patient transfer specialist-paramedic and accepted her resignation as a full-time firefighter-paramedic.