Great Bend Post

BARTON COUNTY – Alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverages are currently available for sale on Sunday in Ellinwood and Hoisington but not in Great Bend or outside the city limits in Barton County.

That could change soon after Barton County Commissioner’s approved a resolution Monday that will allow Sunday sales of alcohol in unincorporated areas of the County.

The issue came to light after the board approved a liquor license for Esten Millard who plans to open Outer Limits Liquor just North of Great Bend, near the U.S. 281-Juco Road intersection.

Millard plans to sell alcohol on Sunday’s from that location. In Commissioner Homer Kruckenburg’s absence, the board voted 3-0 to allow the Sunday sales with Alicia Straub abstaining from the vote.

“Because Ellinwood has allowed Sunday sales and Great Bend has not, it puts me in that position where I don’t feel like I can make that decision for them, said Straub. “I don’t want to stop this individual from starting a business. I think it’s great that we have young people who want to start new businesses. As far as Sunday sale, I can’t make that decision at this point,” she said.

Commissioner Jennifer Shartz said she had no problem voting for the resolution since any one opposed will have 61-days to conduct a protest petition. That could put the measure on a ballot to be voted on.

County Clerk Donna Zimmerman told the board that a petition would need to contain 5-percent of voters who cast ballots in the last presidential election which was in 2012. She says that would be around 200 signatures, although she always encourages anyone who is conducting a protest petition to get twice the amount of signatures than needed.