Branson Aldermen Voted to Pass Alcohol Bill and Police Bill

During Tuesday’s Board of Aldermen meeting Branson Aldermen voted on a bill pertaining to alcohol and one connected to police.

Bill 6035 was a topic of discussion during Tuesday night’s meeting. The ordinance amending the City code passed four to one. Prior to the vote, the Aldermen heard from the public and made their own comments. City Attorney Chris Lebeck did not deliver a staff report. “As the Board knows this is just merely a policy decision in whether the City wants to continue to mandate businesses to sell food, to sell intoxicating liquor,” Lebeck said. The amendment essentially allows businesses to sell liquor without having to sell food hot dogs.

After comments from The Landing Marketing Director and another in favor of lessening the City’s restrictive liquor policy, Missouri State Representative Brian Seitz spoke. “With this ordinance I ask what does it do for the future of Branson and does it reflect our past and the very reason that we have a unique, successful tourist area,” he said. He said he likes “the old Branson ways” and thinks Branson’s visitors do too. He said it is not about restricting businesses but about the brand of Branson and what makes it unique.

President and CEO of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB Jason Outman spoke in favor of amending the ordinance. Near the end of his remarks, Outman said “this is not an issue that we see will lead to any type of drunkenness or just bad behavior within the City but just an opportunity to grow our destination both as a visitor and from a development opportunity.”

Bill 6036 was also discussed and voted on. It pertains to failure to identify to a police officer. Missouri State Representative Brian Seitz spoke again regarding the bill. He said he is in agreement with the current Missouri code which states that it is an offense for someone who has been lawfully arrested to refuse to identify themselves. He did speak against this new ordinance during the meeting. He said making it an offense to not identify oneself in the City is “one more loss of individual freedom.”

After discussion, the ordinance passed four to one. The entire meeting is available online.