CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman City Council on Monday evening suspended its regular rules of order to pass an ordinance that will allow alcohol sales from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Sundays in the city, as well as special hours for New Year’s Eve. The move comes after the City of Good Hope approved a similar measure in late May.
The amended ordinance section governing hours of sales now reads:
Sec. 4-55. – Authorized hours. It shall be unlawful for any person, whether a liquor, wine or beer licensee or not to sell, offer for sale or to serve or dispense for offer or reward, or to offer to serve or dispense for reward any liquor, wine or beer for on premises consumption or off premises consumption, or to allow the consumption of any alcoholic beverages on the licensed premises except during the following hours: Monday from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., Tuesday from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., Wednesday from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., Thursday from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., Friday from 6:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. (midnight), Saturday from 6:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. (midnight), and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. In addition, it shall be lawful on New Year’s Eve (December 31) from 10:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day (January 1) of any year.
The council also approved alcohol license requests from:
- Dollar General Store #22440, 1470 County Road 715 for a retail off-premises license
- El Mexcal Mexican Grill, 1629 Town Square SW for an on-premises restaurant license
- German Axe Throwing Co., 419 Main Ave SW for an on-premises restaurant license
Airport improvements
The council passed two resolutions concerning Cullman Regional Airport. The first awarded the bid for the airport runway reconstruction project to Wiregrass Construction Co., Inc., in the amount of $4,012,534.56. The only other bidder as Good Hope Contracting Co., Inc. with a bid of $7,247,586.75.
While no safety issues were identified with the runway concerning its current aircraft loads, Harrison said in 2019 that it has “currently a few weak spots.” The planned improvement will alleviate those issues and allow the runway to handle heavier aircraft than it does at this time. One of the main goals of the overall project, from its inception, has been to enable all of the paved surfaces of the airport to support the weight of larger and heavier aircraft, to help make the Cullman area more accessible and attractive to existing and potential future industries.
The other resolution condemns avigation (aviation navigation) easements along the southern end of the runway for flight safety. The city will not take property as a result of the condemnations, but the resolution grants the city authority to cut trees on the affected properties in order to bring the airport in line with current Federal Aviation Administration regulations for safe takeoffs and landings.
Main Avenue repaving contract awarded
The council awarded a bid to resurface and stripe West Main Avenue Southwest to Good Hope Contracting Co., Inc in the amount of $2,259,483.61. Wiregrass Construction Co., Inc., which won the airport contract, submitted a bid of $2,404,083.27. Good Hope Contracting will repave the road from U.S. Highway 278 all the way to State Road 69/Cherokee Avenue.
According to Mayor Woody Jacobs, the city will pay approximately $200,000, with an Alabama Department of Transportation grant providing the majority of funds.
Rock the South and other special events
The council approved a resolution authorizing the city to provide police and fire services, as well as a water tank truck for Rock the South in August, to help keep down dust at the event venue and preserve air quality for guests. Called a “772 agreement,” the resolution referenced Alabama Constitution amendment 772, which allows a municipality to “Lend its credit to or grant public funds and things of value in aid of or to any individual, firm, corporation or other business entity, public or private, for the purpose of promoting the economic and industrial development of the county or the municipality.”
City legal counsel Luke Satterfield read excerpts from an announcement that was published in local media, describing “a resolution approving the First Responder services of Police, Fire and City Water Truck for the event of Rock the South occurring on August 13 and 14, 2021, located at 1872 County Road 469, Cullman, AL 35057. The public benefits sought to be achieved by the proposed authorization, execution and delivery of the resolution are (i) to provide a police and fire presence in order to deter crime and assist with emergencies; (ii) to aid in event safety through periodic assessment and enforcement of State and local laws/rules/ordinances during Rock the South; (iii) to combat issues with dust along roads and paths inside the event location to provide for high visibility; and reduce respiratory and health issues (iv) to maintain proper paths for ingress/egress access within the event location for emergency purposes and monitoring crowd behavior to ensure proper access to attendees during any emergency situations which may arise; and (v) to provide the equipment, all of which inure to the health, safety and public welfare of the City its citizens and quests and constitute public and economic benefits to the City and its citizens. For purposes of Amendment No. 772, the City proposes to lend things of value for the benefit of the Rock the South which will be paid for by public funds, being police, firemen, equipment and water tank truck.”
According to the resolution, Rock the South will make a capital investment of $3,000,000 in the event, leading to “the creation of approximately a minimum of nine full time and 85 temporary jobs and the generation of approximately half a million dollars in sales tax revenue plus lodging taxes to the City, in addition to new sales tax revenue dedicated for educational purposes of capital improvements for education , new business license revenue, new sales, use tax revenue from materials, increased ad valorem tax revenue to the City and promote Cullman both locally and nationally.”
The council approved multiple community special event requests:
- from Amanda Knappenberger for a neighborhood block party in the 700 block of 8th Street Southeast between 7th Avenue Southeast and 8th Avenue Southeast on July 4, 2021
- from Heather Gudger of Southern Accents for an annual neighborhood block party in the alley behind Southern Accents located at 308 2nd Ave. SE on Saturday, July 10, 2021
- from Cody Miller of Desperation Church for a Volunteer Team Night Celebration at Depot Park on Sunday, July 25, 2021
- from Summer Burden of Restoring Women Outreach for an addiction recovery resources event at Depot Park on September 25, 2021
- from Judith Caples of Cullman Downtown Merchants Association for a Halloween Block Party on 1st Avenue Southeast on October 30, 2021
The council also approved the purchase of a piece of property adjacent to Heritage Park, which will be used for public parking.
The Cullman City Council meets at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month in the City Hall auditorium. The public is invited to attend.
