Cotter council approves ordinance changing Sunday alcohol sales hours; one member abstains

The Cotter City Council voted Nov. 21 to adopt Ordinance 2024-09, which amends Ordinance 2022-06 to change the hours when alcohol sales are allowed on Sundays. The measure passed with five council members voting in favor and Councilwoman Mertice Kray abstaining.

Councilman Chuck Sugg moved to adopt the ordinance after Recorder/Treasurer Andrea Kray read the ordinance title aloud for its third reading; Councilman Ben Woodard seconded. The council had placed the ordinance on first, second and third readings by title earlier in the meeting; each reading was read by Andrea Kray. The council recorded five votes in favor and one abstention during the adoption motion.

Later in the meeting, Councilwoman Linda McCarthy moved and Councilman Joe Bass seconded a motion to declare Ordinance 2024-09 an emergency; that motion also passed with five in favor and Councilwoman Mertice Kray abstaining. The minutes record the council’s formal votes but do not specify an effective date for the ordinance.

The ordinance was introduced and advanced under regular readings and a separate emergency motion; the minutes do not include statements explaining the change to Sunday hours beyond the ordinance title and the motions recorded. The council also set its next regular meeting for Dec. 19, 2024.

The council’s formal roll-call votes and the abstention are recorded in the meeting minutes; the minutes do not quote individual members explaining their votes. The council approved the Oct. 24 meeting minutes earlier in the session and heard department reports before taking action on the ordinance.