HomeMy WebLinkAboutSunday Sales public input.docx /
To whom it may concern,
I just wanted to reaffirm our position on the up and coming vote for the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sunday. On a business level we have had complaints throughout the years relating
to the issue at hand. Some even stating that they would choose to never come to this county again, or they will keep driving next time to Idaho Falls. There are those who are very
offended and those who are mildly put off.
We are seeing several guests venture here from outside countries where it is traditional to have a glass of wine with their dinner. I also have several tour groups that are choosing
to stay in this area as opposed to Yellowstone area. The interest has been higher than ever this coming travel season and they are booking 15-20 rooms per stay. Most of them are
coming from China and France and most of their stays are on Sunday evenings. We welcome them into our community but with restrictions that they are unaccustomed to.
I am afraid that we are doing ourselves a disservice by limiting others. We have so much to offer to all who venture here. Our doors should always be open to all.
Trish Siepert
General Manager
AmericInn Lodge and Suites
1098 Golden Beauty Dr
Rexburg, ID 83440
208-356-5553
===================================================================
This message was sent from Rexburg.org:
Our family supports the city council fully if they choose to remove restrictions on the sale of alcohol on Sundays. It would be a reasonable decision and good for the business/tourist
atmosphere of Rexburg.
You may reply to northstar2infinity@gmail.com.
Sent at 2015-03-08 20:50:42
===================================================================
I am in favor of allowing beer & wine to be sold on Sunday. Yes-yes
Sent from my iPhone
Dave Salvesen
===================================================================
I support this ordinance. Kellen Birch
Sent from my iPhone
===================================================================
I fully support the new ordinance to allow distribution of alcohol on Sunday. Though I cannot attend I sent my full support and voice.
Thank you.
Cole Withers
===================================================================
Hi Blair,
This is Cami Mortensen. I wanted to tell you that I am in favor of allowing alcohol to be served in our restaurants in Rexburg. I think it would be a very good thing for our city. It
will not damage our city and it will bring more restaurants here, which we very badly need.
Thanks,
Cami Mortensen
1340 Fairview Ave
Rexburg, Idaho
===================================================================
I am in full support of alcohol sales in Rexburg on Sundays!
Kelsey Brown
===================================================================
Blair,
I would like to voice my concern about the ordinance on beer and wine sales on Sunday.
I would much rather see our local tax dollars being spent in our county by allowing people to get what they want here in Rexburg, instead of taking that money to Bonneville or Fremont
etc. I am LDS and I know that’s not what this is about, but I am all for local businesses being able to see alcohol on Sundays.
Thanks for your time
Teri Hansen, Born and raised Rexburg
208-351-4522
I say allow sales of alcohol on Sundays. If people don’t want to buy it on Sunday then don’t but that shouldn't stop others that do want to buy it no matter what day of the week it is.
Kyle Gardner
Blair,
I'm going to try and attend the meeting tonight but life being what it is a the juvenile correction center, I may not make it down. I did want to voice my support of beer and wine sales
in Rexburg however, due mostly to my experiences being in Applebee's on Sundays and during the week. There are many people from outside the area who stay at either the AmercInn or
the Marriott who come in and order dinner and ask for an alcoholic beverage. To a person they are stunned when they can't have one and usually leave the establishment without getting
anything. I feel that the city of Rexburg is hurting itself financially because these folks will not only not go to Applebee's again, they won't stay in those motels either...
Blue laws have proven to be ineffective in managing behavior and they usually only result in harm to the bottom line of the business and the city.
Thanks for your time, Blair, and I hope to see you tonight.
Regards,
Troy Allgood
==================================================================================
I am all for alcohol sales on Sunday in Rexburg Idaho .
Sincerely Troy Salvesen
Sent from my iPhone
I'd just like to let those involved in the discussion of beer and wine sales on Sunday know I don't have a problem with it. I would love to get some more restaurants in Rexburg and if
that's what it takes let's do it. We already allow those sales 6 days a week. I think if visitors are perceiving Rexburg as unwelcoming and judgmental that does more harm than good.
I hope people will feel that Rexburg is a nice place and have good feelings about our community. We would love for them to return again and again and learn about our community. I also
can see how
frustrating it would be to own or manage a restaurant that sells wine and beer normally and the rules change on Sunday. Customers like what they like and want what they want and aren't
always very nice when things don't go their way. How can a business improve their service when the complaints they receive are no wine on Sundays-it is out of their control to improve
the problem. Thanks!
Marianne Merrill
Rexburg
Dear Council Members,
Thank you for addressing this issue for our town. I very much appreciate your willingness to improve the overall economic health, and future, of our community by passing this ordinance.
Thank you,
R. Eastin
Against:
To whom it may concern: I am just writing to let you know that I am against 1128 or allowing beer and wine sales on Sunday. I don't view this as an advancement or enhancement for our
community. We've been just fine without it for years and I would like to see it continue as is. Thanks Dan Yardley ===================================================================
Blair
I understand there is ordinance that is to allow alcohol to be sold on Sundays. I would like to vote no on this. I think we still need to have standards in the city
of Rexburg and one day a week isn’t asking too much. I hope we can uphold the values this city formed many years ago!
Thank you
Brett Robinson
Blair- I don't think that Rexburg should change their laws about alcohol sales on Sunday. I don't believe we need to change our stance on the topic. It will not better our community
in anyway, if anything it will make things worse. That is my opinion.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Blake Shaw
===================================================================
To: Blair Kay and City Council members
Re: Ordinance 1128
From: Thomas Croasmun
Dear Sirs,
I’m writing in opposition to the adoption of Ordinance 1128 for the following reasons:
1. It seems to me this is a profit versus community values issue. As Mr. Barnard said: “A small percentage of people in our community and most tourists and visitors are dismayed…
that Applebee’s cannot sell beer and wine on Sunday.” The key is A SMALL PERCENTAGE. I’m tired of a small number of people dictating to the greater number of the people what should
be done.
2. Mr. Jerry Merrill said he wants visitors to “experience” Rexburg. I wonder what he means by “experience?” What is there to experience in Rexburg when the majority of establishments
are closed because the majority of the people are in church? And what would be different about Rexburg
if we were exactly alike other cities? If we want people to “experience” Rexburg let’s let them “experience” a community that has standards about Sabbath day observance.
Thank you for your time and I urge the council to vote against Ordinance 1128.
Respectfully,
Thomas Croasmun
===================================================================
March 18, 2015
To Rexburg City Mayor Woodland and Members of the City Council.
RE: Consideration of Proposed Bill 1128
I am opposed to proposed Bill 1128 as presented by City attorney Zollinger. The bill proposes to eliminate the restriction of selling alcoholic beverages on Sunday and to consolidate
Ordinances 341, 342, 445, and 942. In the March 4, 2015 City Council meeting, City attorney Zollinger and members of the City Council offered their opinions in favor of, against, or
neutral to the proposed bill. As I read the minutes of that meeting and the discussion on this bill I observed the following reasons given in favor of the bill (I note that there were
few opinions offered in opposition):
Allowing the sale of alcohol on Sunday is a simple way to manage the alcohol sales in Rexburg and is a mirror of the state statue.
Allowing the sale of alcohol on Sunday will help the City mitigate its struggles to bring hotels and family type restaurants to do business here.
Allowing the sale of alcohol on Sunday will have a positive impact on Rexburg’s economy.
Allowing the sale of alcohol on Sunday will be good for tourism and the economy.
Allowing the sale of alcohol on Sunday doesn’t do anything to the City of Rexburg; because liquor by the drink is not permitted in Rexburg.
Note the common reasons given for eliminating the sale of alcohol on Sunday is business and money. One Councilperson stated that “…Rexburg wants to be known as America’s Family Community…”
I would ask the Mayor and City Council, what it means to be known as America’s Family Community.
The American Family Community was established on the values of Judeo-Christian beliefs and reverence toward God. Our nation was founded by individuals who were predominantly Christian
and who infused those values into the Constitution and the culture of this nation. The City of Rexburg, this American Family Community was established on those same beliefs and values,
perhaps even more than other city in our State and nation. At the beginning of each City Council
meeting a prayer is offered, in which the City officers publically recognize and reaffirm our faith and trust in God. Generally the prayer will ask for His guidance and direction in
administering the affairs of the City. In addition to the prayer those attending the meeting stand and pledge their allegiance to our nation that was created under the direction of
God. We can do better than just give lip service to God and then do what we want to.
One of the principles of the Judeo-Christian values that our City and nation were founded upon is simply stated as Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. We cannot control if and
when a business is open – indeed, that is the foundation for free enterprise. However, we have the moral obligation to identify what is offered for sale and when the sales can occur.
That is why we have Ordinance 942. For six days individuals are able to buy alcohol. But on the Sabbath we can at least give up something as small as selling alcohol on that day.
The Judeo-Christian God is not against business or industry. In fact He encourages us to be prosperous, to progress and to improve upon our endowed resources. However, He does have
some restrictions related to our activities in our businesses. For example He wants us to be honest, to be ethical, and too be responsible and accountable for our actions. He wants
us to observe the Sabbath day. History documents that drinking alcohol on the Sabbath was not acceptable, hence the origin to Ordinance 942 and other similar ordinances in other cities
across this nation.
I appreciate the view of the business owners and managers who want to sell alcohol on Sunday. I appreciate Mr. Barnard’s comments and letter. Corey and I are friends. I hope that
our opposite views will not hinder our friendship.
In Mr. Barnard’s comments he noted that many of the Sunday customers (50%) leave Applebee’s mad because they can’t have a glass of wine or beer. I would ask what about the other 50%?
What are their feelings? I wonder what they are thinking. Consider the following scenario of a conversation and thoughts that could occur at Applebee’s with the “other 50%”:
Guest: “…and I will have a glass of wine with my steak.”
Waiter: “I’m sorry, we don’t sell wine or alcohol on Sunday.”
Guest: “You don’t sell alcohol on Sunday? Is that an Applebee’s policy?”
Waiter: “No, it is the City of Rexburg’s policy. You can buy alcohol on any other day of the week, but just not on Sunday.”
Guest: “Oh that is interesting.”
And then to the other guests “I wonder why the City of Rexburg has a policy that you can’t buy alcohol on Sunday.”
And upon leaving Applebee’s as they are getting into their car and exit the parking lot they notice on the hill a big white building, silhouetted against the skyline. One of the guests
turns to the other and says “I wonder what that beautiful white building is on the hill up there?”
By amending the current law (Ordinance 942) to allow alcohol sales on Sunday will our city still be an American Family Community that reverences God? Perhaps with our focus on business,
tourism, money, etc. we are distracted from becoming an American Family Community instead, becoming a community seeking after popularity and money. The Judeo-Christian principles also
instruct us (our community) to be the salt of the earth! As the salt of the earth we are to live our religion, to be the savor in our communities and stand as witnesses of those truths.
Just because our nation and our State are rapidly declining with respect to degenerating morals and eliminating the existence or reference to God publically, doesn’t mean we have to
follow. We can be like the light on the hill, standing for right. We can take the higher road in this decision. We need to stand as witnesses of God and His laws at this time. I
invite the council members to take that road and reject Bill 1128.
With warm regards,
Stephen McGary
915 Hillview Drive
Rexburg, Idaho
Carrie Shaw
3300 West 1000 North
Rexburg Idaho 83440
March 20, 2015
Mayor Richard S Woodland and City Council
RE: Beer and Wine on Sunday Ordinance
Dear Mayor and members of City Council.
Let me state that I do not live in the City Limits so therefore you may choose to disregard my letter
altogether but I do 95 percent of my shopping in the city and have lived in Madison County for 40 years.
One thing that I found very interesting is the discussion of attracting business. What’s sets Rexburg apart from other communities is the style of family life we all enjoy. We brag
constantly of how this is a family friendly community. How it is a great place to raise a family.
Pioneers came looking for a place to raise their families and make their lives better. They worked unceasingly to grub sagebrush and dig ditches trying to etch out a better living for
their posterity. Much of what makes Rexburg unique is the heritage of the buildings, the University, the life style established by those ancestors.
In the Standard Journal it quoted Jerry Merrill as saying he felt the change was necessary in order to make the City more inviting to visitors. I only question, if we become like everyone
else, what sets us apart and makes us unique? People are impressed with the cleanliness of the town and the friendly people.
If the Beer and Wines sale were approved how much would we lose of our integrity and our uniqueness? If you are traveling it’s what makes each community different that you remember
not how they are the same!
Much of Rexburg businesses are closed on Sunday, will that be the next thing we give up, because we are looking for that extra dollar that we might lose if honor the Sabbath Day. Look
at the community and ask yourselves how would I like to see it? Is it about the dollar or about the quality of the community.
To quote the movie Field of Dreams, "If you build it they will come."
Respectfully Carrie Shaw
===================================================================
March 23, 2015
Mayor Woodland and members of the Rexburg City Council:
Thank you for your time and efforts in reading and responding to my last letter regarding Bill 1128. I do appreciate your insights and discussions both during and following the recent
City Council meeting. I note that the Saturday addition of the Standard Journal reported on the issue you face of rescinding Ordinances 341, 343, 445 and 942. That article resulted
in some citizens that responded to me in favor of my stated position.
From your discussion and comments in the council meeting last Wednesday the purposes for which you state your support of Bill 1128 is for the ‘betterment of the economy, or society
and community’ including ‘It’s good for business and it’s good for our community’. Mayor Woodland was quoted in the paper as saying Bill 1128 “levels the playing field”. I disagree.
As I view the current score of the “playing field” that the Mayor describes, the score reads: “businesses = 6 days of alcohol sales; Judeo-Christian (God) values = 1 day non-alcohol
sales”. With a “leveled playing field” defined by the Mayor the score will be “businesses = 7 days of alcohol sales; God = 0 days of non-alcohol sales.”
Mayor Woodland implies that the “level playing field” is related to the one or two businesses in the City that are allowed to sell alcohol under a “grandfather clause.” Again, I disagree.
Just because one business was granted “grandfather” exceptions to selling on Sunday doesn’t mean that everyone else should be. The original purpose of banning the sale of alcohol
on Sunday was to honor that day, to respect the values on which our community, society and nation were established. Applebee’s came to Rexburg understanding the ordinance that banned
alcohol sales on Sunday. They willingly accepted that ordinance and agreed to abide by it.
Last month the town of Rigby faced a similar proposed bill to discontinue the ban on Sunday alcohol sales. The city council rejected that bill, taking the higher road in concern for
their community, their values and the integrity of the businesses of that town. I invite you to review the public comments and the discussion of the Rigby City Council members for
and against Ordinance #2015-575 on February 19, 2015 (http://www.cityofrigby.com/use_images/agendas_minutes/citycouncilminutes/minutesfeb192015.pdf )
In conclusion, I commend to you a devotional message given by Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the LDS Church at BYU-Idaho on October 12, 2010 (Making a Living and a Life”). In that message,
Elder Robbins outlined the qualifications and motivations of businesses. He graded the businesses “A-F” based upon their motives, their conduct, their integrity and their concern for
community and society at large. I appeal to you that you take time to view and read that message, especially toward the end where he does specifically discuss businesses that sell
alcohol. I have included that portion of the message in this letter. Internet links to the entire message is also included at the end of that insert. Ponder on his message and consider
what the motives of 1128 are and its relationship to our businesses, our community and society at large.
My position is not against businesses. It is not against the agency of the individual consumer. My position is based upon values and upholding the integrity of our City, America’s
Family Community!
With warm regards,
Stephen McGary
915 Hillview Drive
Rexburg
Excerpt from Elder Lynn G. Robbins Message, October 12, 2010
“…The motives that drive people are the hinges upon which major outcomes swing.
In making a living, the Lord identified two opposite motivators – God and mammon. We know that money itself is not evil; in fact, it represents “the sweat of our face” – a commandment
of the Lord. Mammon goes beyond money to “the love of money” and is referred to as “the root of all evil” we read in 1 Tim. 6:10….
…As the world becomes increasingly more wicked it will become more and more difficult to find people of integrity. I believe the search for people of integrity is already drawing more
and more recruiters to BYU-Idaho. You are a rare and highly prized commodity.
Three Helpful Principles:
Some decisions that face members of the Church are not always easy or clear.
Here are three helpful principles to help you make A-level choices.
Can you ask the Lord’s blessings with a clear conscience? We learn in Alma 34:24-25 that you can pray for success in your labors -- “over the crops of your fields that ye may prosper
in them . . . over the flocks of your fields that they may increase.” The Church Handbook of Instruction teaches us that “Members of the Church should endeavor to be involved in activities
and employment upon which they can conscientiously ask the blessings of the Lord and which are consistent with the principles of the gospel and the teachings of the Savior.” (Church
Handbook of Instructions, Book 1 2006, p. 179)
When questionable products or services are involved, is the person’s involvement direct or indirect? Can an A-level grocer, for example, sell coffee and tea to those customers who know
nothing of the Word of Wisdom and for whom it would not be a sin? The grocer might do so at the request of his customers to meet their demands when he clearly would never produce coffee
himself. His involvement is indirect.
Does the product or service hurt society? Some products and services may be detrimental to the individual while others damage the community. Coffee and tea, for example, would be
products that have individual consequences. Alcohol and pornography, however, have proven to also have community consequences. Alcohol has resulted in traffic accidents and domestic
violence; pornography has led to divorce and broken homes, pedophilia, rape, murder, etc. “Pornography damages individual lives, families, and society . . . Church members should .
. . oppose its production, dissemination, and use.” (Emphasis added, Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1 2010, 166)
An A-level company feels a community responsibility that goes beyond respecting individual agency or rights and customer demands.
Years ago, while on a stake visit, President Kimball interviewed a brother who was a grocer by trade. I quote President Kimball,
“What do you sell in this store?’ . . . ‘Groceries and miscellaneous merchandise.’ ‘Your competitors sell other things including forbidden things, do they not?’ I asked. ‘Yes, but
we have felt it was not right. . . We lost trade, of course. People leave our store and go to the other store and buy many dollars’ worth of groceries where they can get a few cans
of beer or some wine, but we do not sell it.’ And I could not refrain from saying, ‘God bless you, my faithful brother. . . . Your dollars are clean.’” (Melchizedek Priesthood Personal
Study Guide 1984, p. 84)
With these additional thoughts, we can add one more level to the model which we will label “F”.
Grade
Primary Motivation
Secondary Motivation
A
Love
Income
B
Money
Love
C
Love of money
Indifferent to customers
D
Filthy Lucre
Harmful to customers
F
Filthy Lucre
Harmful to customers and to society, nations destroyed.
F Level
At this level are the unscrupulous individuals and companies whose involvement is ‘direct’ and whose primary business damages or destroys society.
What about those whose involvement in F-level products and services is not direct, nor is it their primary business, such as a grocer who sells beer and wine or pornographic magazines
fearing he will lose business if doesn’t provide it? Because his primary business and motivation is good, he may not be at the D or F-level, but due to his disregard for principle
#3 above, and as an abettor of the forbidden, he is now excluded from the A category as that level has been compromised.”
http://www2.byui.edu/Presentations/Transcripts/Devotionals/2010_10_12_Robbins.htm
https://video.byui.edu/media/Lynn+G.+Robbins+%22Making+a+Living+and+a+Life%22/0_9xdyzhvw/14825962