Council approves MAD alcohol sales ordinance

The Murphy Arts District will be able to serve alcoholic beverages when it opens late next month.

The El Dorado City Council on Thursday unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption for any business with a permit from the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.

Per the conditions of the permit, also known as the “hotel/ motel/restaurant mixed drink permit,” businesses may sell and allow the consumption of alcoholic beverages on-premises between the hours of 7 and 2 a.m. Monday — Saturday and from 10 a.m. until midnight on Sunday.

The first phase of MAD, an arts and entertainment district that will include a variety of venues on the south end of Downtown El Dorado, is expected to be completed and ready to open with a five-day celebration Sept. 27 — Oct. 1.

On Thursday, the city council suspended the rules and read the proposed ordinance three times before approving it with an emergency clause, meaning the ordinance went into effect immediately.

The vote drew cheers and applause from MAD representatives who were in the audience.

City Attorney Henry Kinslow said the ordinance aligns with a new state law that went into effect on Aug. 1.

In other business, the council amended an ordinance it passed last month to abolish the former El Dorado Water and Sewer Commission and establish a Water Advisory Board.

The advisory board will work with the Department of Public Works to oversee operations for the El Dorado Water Utilities, city officials have said.

Mayor Frank Hash explained Thursday that the initial ordinance that was adopted during a special council meeting on July 17 did not contain language that explicitly dissolved the water and sewer commission.

Rather, the ordinance spelled out the conditions under which the Water Advisory Board would be created.

Last month, aldermen voted 7 - 1 with the intent of

abolishing the commission, citing what they said were ongoing problems with the water utilities, including poor customer service and inefficiency in making repairs.

Alderman Billy Blann voted no on the measure then.

Former water and sewer commissioners and EWU general manager Mark Smith said the utilities had worked to address the concerns and complaints that had been raised by aldermen and customers, while admitting there was room for improvement.

Smith resigned on July 18. No water and sewer commissioners or EWU employees attended the called meeting, with several saying they were not notified about the meeting.

As on July 17, several votes that were taken on Thursday ended with 7-1 results.

Aldermen suspended the rules and adopted the ordinance amendment after three readings. They also enacted an emergency clause.

Blann voted no on motions calling for the various readings, final passage and the emergency clause.

The council also set a deadline of Aug. 18 to submit applications to serve on the five-member advisory board. Board members will serve staggered terms of up to five years.

City Clerk Heather McVay reported Thursday that four applications had been submitted.

Hash said an allowance permitting water and sewer commissioners to live outside city limits will remain intact for the advisory board, since EWU services and operations extend up to five miles outside city limits.

To request an application to serve on the advisory board, call McVay at 870-881-4877.