Council approves temporary exception allowing out-of-city employees to serve alcohol after debate

Saint Joseph — The City Council voted 7-2 to adopt an ordinance creating a temporary exception to the city’s server-license requirement that allows, with city manager or designee approval, an out-of-city employee to fill in and sell alcohol for a limited time.

Clerk read an ordinance that would permit a business to use an employee who is licensed at an out-of-city location to work temporarily inside city limits when the regular employee is unavailable. An unidentified council member who spoke in opposition warned of enforcement and safety risks, saying, “Potentially, we could have unlicensed people, selling alcohol.” The opponent referenced the city's recent youth alcohol enforcement efforts and argued owners can license additional staff instead of relying on exceptions.

A second unidentified council member said the change was narrowly tailored. “It would be very limited use,” the council member said, explaining the provision was intended so a business owner whose employee works out in the county can temporarily fill a gap in staffing inside the city.

After discussion, the council approved the ordinance by a roll-call tally of 7 yes and 2 no. The ordinance language requires city manager or designee approval for the exception; the transcript did not record text of any implementation rules or enforcement process beyond that approval mechanism.

The council took the vote during consideration of a pulled consent-agenda item; the ordinance will take effect according to the city's standard codification process unless further implementation details are provided at a later meeting.