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By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

The Thorsby City Council amended its alcohol ordinance to now include another portion of stipulations at its Feb. 20 meeting. Thorsby Police Chief Rodney Barnett proposed to the council to add Article 5, Section 1B that states “consumption of alcoholic beverages brought or brown-bagged on the premises of non-residential businesses without a beverage retail license” is not prohibited.

Before the amendment, a business in Thorsby could have alcohol brought into their business per the ABC board guidelines. Now with the amendment in place, it encourages business owners to get their alcohol license through the state of Alabama.

Private events in the city such as weddings, banquets or receptions can still bring alcohol as long as there is no charge to attend the event.

The motion to amend the ordinance was passed unanimously. Councilman Neil Benson was absent from the meeting.

A business license for a possible karaoke lounge was awarded to Jermaine McGee and Kevin White. McGee and White presented the council their business plan to put a karaoke lounge in downtown Thorsby on Highway 31. McGee and White proposed the lounge will be a family-oriented, more laid-back style of lounge and want to target that demographic. McGee said there will be security present each night the lounge is open, which he said he hopes is Thursday-Saturday. The council approved the business license with a 3-1 vote, and Councilman Marvin Crumpton was opposed.

An ordinance was put in place between the city and the owners of the lot behind Red Zone Sports Grill on Montgomery Avenue. The ordinance says the owners must pave or asphalt the lot, like stated in the business proposal, for a parking lot within nine months. The alleyway that runs beside Red Zone to Montgomery Avenue will be shut down, but the city has a sewer line in the alleyway. The ordinance states the city will be responsible for the repairs to the paved lot, if they have to break it apart to get to the lines below it.

The ordinance passed unanimously.

Glenn Littleton proposed a resolution for the Thorsby City Council to send a letter to the state in support of maintaining the parking on Highway 31 amidst ongoing talks to expand the road. The resolution was passed unanimously.