City officials moved one step closer to allowing microbreweries and distilleries to sell alcohol on Sunday.

Before a packed meeting room Tuesday night, the Winchester Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the first reading of the ordinance.

Following two hours of public comment on both sides of the issue, commissioners Shannon Cox and JoEllen Reed said they could not vote for the ordinance, while Kitty Strode and Ramsey Flynn supported the measure.

The decision went to Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner, who voted yes.

“What we’re dealing with is an ordinance to address two businesses,” he said. “When I ran for public office, I ran to represent all people. After the last experience, there were several people who left the room upset with me. I’ve already lost a lot of friends over this issue.”

Cox said he supported allowing restaurants to sell alcohol in 2013, but made no promises for future expansion of alcohol sales.

“I gave my word that night,” he said. “I never foresaw this was going to happen in Winchester.”

“This has been really gut-wrenching,” Reed said, who voted against it while serving on the fiscal court in 2013. “My vote is for the young people in the community and the people in recovery.”

Flynn said he understood both sides, but it came down to a business decision.

“The way I see it, it does have to be a level playing field,” he said. “Why can we say as a government … it’s alright for these other business but our local ones can’t?”

“I feel like this is what’s best for Winchester,” Strode said.

The second reading of the ordinance will be during the commission’s Oct. 1 meeting.

Abettor Brewing owner Tyler Montgomery said the ordinance would put the industry on the same page as restaurants in town, which are allowed to serve alcohol on Sunday.

“That’s why I’m pushing for this,” Montgomery said. “We want to be on a level playing field.”

Ben Pasley, chief operating officer for the company opening Wildcat Willy’s, said he wants the same chance everyone else has.

“We want a fair opportunity here,” he said. “We want to create a community-type atmosphere to sell food, to sell a beer … and be able to hire a couple more people.”

Many who spoke, though, were opposed to additional alcohol sales in Winchester for reasons varying from noise to additional threats of drunk drivers.

“It saves me with (no) alcohol on Sunday,” said Lois Joseph, a self-described recovering alcoholic. “I’ve got nothing against drinking a beer, but one leads to two.”

“We need a respite from alcohol sales,” said Sam Jaros. “It’s death of 1,000 cuts.”

“What’s right for this community is not opening up for the minority,” Foster Taulbee said. “What’s right for the community is the majority.”

Microbreweries and distilleries have become tourist attractions in their own right, said Derek Selznick, executive director of the Kentucky Guild of Brewers.

“Yes, Sunday sales are happening,” he said. “This is not a bar. These are $5, $6, $7 for one beer. We do not believe in drinking and driving. We do not believe in service to (people) less than 21.”

In other action Tuesday, the commissioners:

— approved reserving a parking spot near the courthouse annex for county constables.

— set the Halloween trick-or-treating hours for 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

— reappointed James Powell to the Winchester Municipal Utilities Commission for a four-year term.

— approved an agreement for the East Clark County Water District to purchase water from WMU.

— approved a 1 percent rebate to Om BVallabh LLC and Rainmaker Hospitality for occupational taxes.

— voted to purchase property at 36 and 40 Lincoln St. for $69,000 as part of the Lincoln Street project.

— voted to purchase property at 225 E. Hickman St. for $50,000 as part of the Lincoln Street project.

— voted to purchase property at 50 Lincoln St. for $8,000 as part of the Lincoln Street project.

— approved an application for $2 million in discretionary funding from the Rural and Municipal Aid funds for the Seventh Street extension project.

— approved a bid from B&T Ross Electric for $4,600 to install additional electrical circuits on Depot Street.

— rescinded an order to hire Jamie Bromagen as a crossing guard.

— accepted the resignation of firefighter III/paramedic Christopher Howard.

— approved a request for $3,500 in additional paving work on Alabama Street.