Board rejects liquor rule
OPELOUSAS — The Opelousas Board of Aldermen Tuesday rejected a proposed amended liquor ordinance that would have prevented some businesses which also sell alcohol to remain open later than the 2 a.m. closing time.
Alderman Blair Briggs, who introduced the proposed ordinance at last month’s meeting, said he did so because of safety concerns for Stallions Restaurant, which has dances and serves alcohol from 2 a.m. until 6 a.m. on Saturdays.
Briggs said if the current ordinance is not amended, other businesses like Stallions will begin to open, creating a “Bourbon Street” atmosphere.
The city’s ordinance requires all businesses that sell alcohol to close by 2 a.m. if their gross alcoholic beverage sales are more than 15 percent between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.
One exception to the current ordinance is Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Racino, which serves alcohol to customers free of charge as long as they play slot machines.
Briggs’ proposed ordinance would have made it unlawful for any business to sell alcoholic drinks between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.
Last month, Briggs said Stallions is circumventing the current ordinance by operating as a restaurant and then becoming a bar one night a week.
Opelousas attorney Derriel McCorvey, who represented Stallions, said the proposed ordinance is discriminatory against Stallions and other small businesses.
McCorvey said if Stallions is prevented from selling alcohol after the 2 a.m. closing time, then all establishments, including Evangeline Downs should be prohibited.
City Attorney Frank Trosclair said the ordinance proposal is legal and treats “everyone” the same.
The proposed ordinance, Trosclair said, is clear that establishments whose primary business is alcohol cannot open after 2 a.m.
“The main business of the casino is gambling, not alcohol. This ordinance does not violate anyone’s constitutional rights,” Trosclair said.
Briggs, Joe Charles and Reggie Tatum voted in favor of the ordinance proposal. Those voting against were Julius Alsandor, Louis Butler Jr. and Jacqueline Martin.
Butler, who owns a liquor sales business, said he contacted the Louisiana Board of Ethics before voting. Butler said state ethics officials told him it is legal for him to vote on the matter.
Other items discussed during the meeting included:
OPERATING BUDGET PASSED: In another matter the board voted unanimously to pass an operating budget of $15.395 million for the fiscal year that ends Aug. 31.
For the past sixth months, the board has remained deadlocked on passing a budget. Since then, the city has operated on 50 percent of the previous year’s budget.
Briggs and Tatum in particular have urged creating a budget that has a bigger revenue surplus than the initial $270,000 projected in the original budget proposal.