Carrollton council cautiously OKs alcohol sales for Fourth of July event

At a special meeting on Monday, Carrollton City Council cautiously approved a request to allow licensed vendors to sell alcohol during a Ladies Night Out event on May 11 and the Fourth of July event which is actually on Saturday, July 6.

The proposal had been mentioned at the council’s previous meeting but a full discussion and decision was delayed until Monday’s special meeting.

Based on the proposal, licensed vendors will be allowed to sell alcohol from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on May 11 and from noon until 10:30 p.m. on July 6.

Carrollton Mayor Robb Adams noted that selling alcohol during the Ladies Night Out event has not posed a problem in previous years and there have been no issues at other events such as the annual Bands and BBQ festival at Point Park.

“I don’t suspect either one of these will pose a problem,” Adams said. “It’s just that we’ve never had this on the Fourth of July. So, if you want a licensed, legal alcohol vendor there, you need to formally say so.”

Council Member Linda Davis said she was not opposed to the idea, but that the event and alcohol sales should be reviewed afterwards to make sure introducing alcohol to the Fourth of July celebration does not become an issue at what is a family event.

“I think we say ‘yes’ this time and if it is a problem, we won’t ever allow it to happen again,” she said.

Council Member Deidra Hays questioned whether allowing alcohol sales during the Ladies Night Out and the Fourth of July might be a step towards her idea of developing downtown Carrollton into an entertainment district for other opportunities.

Adams said the two proposals are unrelated but promised to look into Hays’ idea and revist it at a later date.

In other business, while responding to complaints about speeders in the alley between Grobmyer and Park avenues, the council approved creating two asphalt speed humps in that alley.

Adams explained that his office has received several complaints about people speeding through that alley, which separates the backyards of homes on both Grobmyer and Park avenues. He noted that while he does not approve of speed humps on city streets, alleys are another matter.

“For snow removal, it poses a problem and then it really sets a precedent if it hasn’t already,” Adams said of the speed humps. “The only drawback to putting them in the alley is everybody’s going to want them ... the reason I don’t have as much of a hang-up personally with alleys is because we don’t do snow removal in alleys.”

Adams said Hinkle Contracting Corporation in Carrollton could build the speed humps at a cost of $500 per hump but a decision would need to be made now if the pavers are to accomplish the work. The alley, which is about a half-mile long, will need four speed humps, Adams said.

“I’m not opposed to them necessarily, but just know that if we start putting them in alleys, it’s gonna be requested city wide,” Council member Jeff Dickow said, agreeing with the mayor and other council members concerned by the request.

“If people can’t act right, then sometimes you have to put them everywhere,” Council member Doug Hill argued, while agreeing with the need for the speed humps, but suggesting that only two may be needed.

Hays made a motion to pay for two asphalt speed humps in the alley between Grobmyer and Park avenues at a cost not to exceed $1,000 and Council member Cristina Marsh seconded. The vote carried with only Dickow and Council Member John T. Booth opposing.

The next regular city council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 13, at Carrollton City Hall.