In 7 Minutes Dothan Commission Passes Alcohol Legislation Forward

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
Date: Mar 05 2013 11:19 AM

Click here for audio of this part of Dothan Commission Meeting

DOTHAN:   With all 7 on the Commission, item 12 concerning Sunday alochol sales discussion started at 10:21 AM. The discussion ended with a vote at 10:28 AM. All 7 on the Commission voted in favor of the issue going to the Alabama Legislature and then to the people to vote on in August of this year.

At 10:22 AM Dr. Fain, Pastor of First Baptist Church spoke to the Commission. As Dr. Fain approached he was instructed that he had only 3 minutes to speak to the Commission on this issue. Dr. Fain told the commissioners that a former Commissioner approached him several years ago about draft beer. Dr. Fain told the commissioner to try and protect one day and keep it holy.

Dr. Fain said there was a statue erected behind the Civic Center with the motto "Let Us To Go Into Dothan". The statue is a great man of faith. As leaders, and Dr. Fain as a Spiritual Leader, told the Commission that we have to trust the Lord for things. Dr. Fain said he knows money is tight and we have to trust God for things. Dr. Fain said in the book of Judges, there was a spiral down of the world. There was no king, no leadership, and the people did what they wanted. Dr. Fain asked the Commission to postpone this issue, pray about it, read the Book of Judges. He asked the Commission to be the King of the City, regard one day and keep it holy. Dr. Fain said he is well aware everyone is not in church on Sunday, however he asked the Commission to keep the one day holy. Dr. Fain also urged the Commissioners to read more of what the man whose statue is erected stood for in "Let us Go To Dothan".

Dr. Fain's comments ended at 10:25 AM.

At 10:25 AM Dothan Commissioner James Reading said that he had been raked over the coals on this issue. Reading said as a man of color that was born in Dothan on September 24, 1938 and has lived in Houston County all of his life except for the 21 years he was in the Air Force. Commissioner Reading said he can remember as a man of color when he was not allowed to vote. Reading said as a Commissioner he can ot say to the people they do not have the right to vote. Reading said he can remember when men of color had to go to the elders of the community and ask if they could vote. If the elders of the community said  no the person was not allowed to vote. If the elders said yes then the man of color was allowed to vote. Reading said one joke or story is when a man of color went to vote he was asked what Section 5 Article 3A of the Alabama Constitution of 1901 said. The man said "i guess it man's I won't be voting today".

Commissioner Reading said if you do not beleive in the sale of alcohol on Sunday, instill in your parishooners to vote it down. Reading said he does not feel the Commission has the right to say too the people they do not have the right to vote, and he can not sit there and tell them people they can not vote. Reading also said he can pray to God himself.

After Reading Sam Tew wanted to speak but was refused. Tew had signed up on privileges of the floor under 8 topics to include Socrities as a topic he wanted to speak to the Commission on. Tew has a story and a issue with the City of Dothan. However the issue occured 18 years ago and there is not anything the current Commission can do. That is when you hear Mayor Schmitz refusing to let Sam speak on this issue and telling him he will have a time later he can speak. I will be telling the Sam Tew story in the future. The reason it will give insight to what Sam's isssue is. However Mayor Schmitz was correct in telling Tew he could not speak at this time.

Then at 10:28 AM CST

Without one single word being uttered from Commissioner Amos Newsome, Commissioner Albert Kirkland, Mayor Mike Schmitz, Commissioner Critt Snellgrove, Commissioner Taylor Barbaree or Commissioner Hamp Baxley, no legal thoughts by that of Dothan City Attorney Freddie Len White or comments from Dothan City Manager Mike West, the issue was called for a vote at 10:28 AM.

The issue passed without a disenting vote and all 7 on the Dothan Commission voted to move this issue to the Alabama Legislature for approval for this issue to be placed on the ballot in August 2013 for a vote by the "registered" voters in the corporate city limits of Dothan Alabama.

PLEASE NOTE:  This was a City of Dothan Commission issue only. The Houston County Commission was not involved in this issue and had no decision making in this issue.

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