Springville loosens beer law

SPRINGVILLE — The plight of a small convenience store owner who lost her beer license — and a major chunk of the store's revenue stream —tugged at the heartstrings of the City Council Tuesday.

The council instructed City Attorney Troy Fitzgerald to tweak the city's alcohol ordinance, allowing owners and managers one misstep before a store automatically loses its license because it sold beer to minors.

Removing the one-strike-and-you're-out provision will allow the city to reinstate the beer license for store owner Venita Henderson. The citation she received last year during one of the city's regular sting operations caused her to fail the December background check required for store owners when renewing their beer licenses. She was caught selling beer to a minor in a police sting in June at her V's Quik Stop convenience store.

As of Jan. 1, she was restricted from selling beer for two years. She also lost her beer-handler's permit — issued by the county — for a year.

The council is trying to make it easier for small stores to stay in business. Henderson said that small stores had a bigger risk of owners or managers being cited because they work the counter more often than owners and managers at larger stores with higher numbers of employees. Stores are allowed three violations before losing their licenses if the citations are issued to non-management employees.

The change the council added included a non-renewal clause if the owner is convicted of a felony but gives two strikes if the first violation is a misdemeanor. It also tripled the licensing fee, normally $300, for first-time violators within a 24-month period.

Henderson may be able to get her license back after the ordinance is published and becomes effective.

The vote was 4-1. Councilman Rodney Burt cast the only no vote.

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E-mail: rodger@desnews.com