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At the City Commission meeting of Tuesday, Sept. 19, the first reading and vote of an amendment to a previously established ordinance of the Winchester Code of Ordinances, which would allow for package alcohol sales on Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., passed in a narrow 3-2 vote.

During the meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 3, further action took place.

The second reading and vote of an amendment to the ordinance occurred, passing 4-1 with ‘yes’ votes from City Commissioners Kenny Book, Kitty Strode, Hannah Toole, and Winchester Mayor JoEllen Reed.

City Commissioner Shannon Cox served as a ‘no’ vote.

“I think that we communicate well, and I just appreciate everyone’s time and effort,” said Commissioner Hannah Toole, who drafted and advocated for the ordinance amendment.

At September’s meeting, the first reading of the ordinance amendment passed by a narrow 3-2 margin, with Mayor Reed and Commissioner Cox as ‘no votes.

Book, who had initially expressed reservations about the change before the meeting on Sept. 19, flipped to a ‘yes’ vote.

Book spoke on Tuesday evening.

“I’m not voting against the churches. I’m voting because I’m tired of people calling Winchester a bedroom community”, he said. “We need to tell the [businesses] that Winchester is open for business. Come on in!”

City Commissioner Kitty Strode, acknowledging that she’s spent 48 years in Winchester, felt that the change would serve Winchester well.

“When I decided to run for commissioner the first time, I said my vote was always going to be [for] what’s best for the community,” she said. “That’s why I am for it.”

Reed also spoke.

“As your Mayor, when making decisions for this community, I have to listen to my constituents whether I agree or whether I disagree”, she said. “Since our last meeting…I literally have extensively read on the topic of Sunday sales and Sunday package sales. I’ve read the pros. I’ve read the cons. I’ve learned several things.”

Among them was the fact that the availability of alcohol on Sunday was unlikely to increase consumption, just spreading the wealth from six days to seven days.

Also, profits will likely not offset labor costs, though Mayor Reed acknowledged that business owners may have more say in this matter.

She also agreed that the act of individuals crossing over into neighboring counties would be lessened, with some – though not extensive – economic benefit.

Reed acknowledged speaking with five local mayors, two of whom were ministers in local churches, and each community voted in favor of Sunday package alcohol sales.

Also, when speaking with a local restaurant owner, they asserted that the amendment would not harm their business.

Acknowledging that it was unknown whether or not there would be an increase in traffic accidents and injury accidents,  Reed requested that – for the next six months – Winchester Police Department Chief James Hall provide a monthly report to the commission with several stats.

They are the number of DUIs, how many of those resulted in accidents or injuries, the day of the week when it occurred, and the number and day of reported domestic violence and child abuse incidents – whether greater, less, or without change.

Shannon Cox, objecting to the amendment change, addressed the audience.

“This is still a poorly written, ill-conceived ordinance [amendment] not because it allows sales on Sunday, but because it should’ve been a joint ordinance with the fiscal court and this commission,” he said. “There are several establishments outside of the city limits that still will not be able to sell alcohol on Sunday. We are putting them at a distinct economic disadvantage. They will not be able to sell on Sundays because they’re on the [other] side of the interstate.”

He also stated that the city received no tax money from the sale of alcohol.

Toole responded.

“I can only control [what I can] control over this, and that is within the city limits,” she said. “I will do everything I can to work for my city, and I will just encourage my magistrates across the street to simply approve this for the county.”