High Springs City Commission finalizes ballot language for November referendum on Sunday alcohol sales
BY DAVID LIGHTMAN
HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. – At the July 10 regular meeting, the High Springs City Commission approved Special Use Permits through the end of the year, allowing the High Springs Brewery to be open every Sunday, and made some changes to the proposed ballot language regarding Sunday alcohol sales.
Public comments
During initial public comments, David Linch spoke about two upcoming Commission meeting date changes that were made at the last meeting and urged that Commissioners “not be so flippant in changing the dates of the meeting. The dates of the meeting should be something that people can depend on.”
Postponement of selection of consultants to rewrite the Land Development Code
After discussion about awarding a contract to rewrite the Land Development Code to one of three potential candidates who had submitted proposals, Commissioners decided to table the item until the July 22 meeting.
Special Use Permits for High Springs Brewery
City Manager Jeremy Marshall introduced the next item, a special event permit application by the High Springs Brewery that would allow them to remain open on Sundays through the end of the year, as suggested by Commissioner Katherine Weitz at the previous meeting. Marshall said he didn’t have authority to approve it since many of the dates won’t fall on holidays or city-wide events (the stipulations in the ordinance passed in 2024). Marshall said no department heads had any objections.
Weitz made a motion to approve the application as submitted, and Commissioner Chad Howell seconded the motion. It passed 4-1, with Commissioner Wayne Bloodsworth in dissent.
Ballot language for Sunday alcohol sales
The next agenda item was an ordinance that would place ballot questions on the November 4 ballot, “providing referendum questions determining whether to amend Chapter 10, Alcoholic Beverages, specifically amending section 10-2, relating to hours of sale, days of sale, and eliminating the need and ability for a special permit.”
Marshall said, “At the last meeting, you wanted this ordinance brought ahead so you can discuss and get it on the ballot. Today is the day for you to go through and get the language completely set. I am prepared to stay here to midnight if we have to get it done. You have to get it done today because you have to have two readings, a first reading and a second reading. If you change something material in it tonight, it starts that cycle over, and we have to go back to a first reading. If we do that, you will also have to have a special meeting prior to July 31 to make it in time for the ballot.”
Weitz said, “The new hours that are being requested for package sales are Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. And for on-premises sales, it strikes through the need to hold a beverage license. And I’m not sure we can do that by State statute. It deletes a requirement to sell food… So there’s a big change in what this petition represents versus what the brewery had asked for last year… It’s a pretty big shift, asking 11 a.m. vs. 7 a.m.”
Marshall said no one from the High Springs Brewery was in attendance at the meeting, otherwise they could ask them.
Howell said the 7 a.m. time would allow the Winn-Dixie liquor store to sell alcohol to people headed to the river or the springs. Mayor Tristan Grunder confirmed that he had spoken with someone from Winn-Dixie, and “they were very supportive of getting this on the ballot.”
Weitz explained that there are three components to the proposed changes: amending off-premises alcohol package sales hours to Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., which would affect stores like Winn-Dixie, Dollar General, and the liquor store; amending on-premises alcohol consumption hours to the same hours as those for package sales; and removing the provision for special permits.
Weitz said, “This petition was put out there with the idea that it was to be able to get the brewery to be allowed to be open without restriction on Sundays, but it has morphed into something very different.”
Grunder said, “If they vote it down, I can tell you right now, Tristan Grunder won’t bring it up again. I don’t want to deal with this anymore… It’s gotten so contentious and so nasty; the citizens should be the ones to decide once and for all what they want.”
Marshall said, “We need to concentrate on the language of what you want to go to that ballot.”
Bloodsworth said, “I am not in favor of turning High Springs into Gainesville. We all speak about how unique this town is… This is opening up for any brewery or bar coming in this town and giving them free rein to open up at 7 o’clock in the morning.” He suggested setting Sunday hours at 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., and he said he favored limiting Sunday sales to breweries who make their own product and not bars.
Motions
Howell made a motion for proposed package sales hours: “We change the Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. to midnight… leaving it exactly the way it is now.” Commissioner Andrew Miller seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Howell made a motion to change the proposed Sunday package sales hours to 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Bloodsworth seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Weitz made a motion to limit package sales on Sundays to beer and wine only, effectively closing the Winn-Dixie liquor store and the independent liquor store on Sundays, and Bloodsworth seconded her motion. Grunder suggested leaving it up to the voters to decide instead of implementing restrictions. The motion passed 3-2, with Grunder and Howell in dissent.
Howell made a motion to change the proposed hours for on-premises alcohol sales to Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to midnight. Bloodsworth seconded his motion, and it passed unanimously.
Howell made a motion to change the proposed Sunday hours for on-premises alcohol sales to 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Miller seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.
Weitz suggested not allowing bars to be open on Sundays but only breweries (on-site manufacturers of malted beverages) and restaurants; she made a motion to that effect, and Miller seconded her motion. The City Attorney said that would require having another first reading and a special meeting before July 31. The motion passed 4-1, with Grunder in dissent.
Addressing special use permits, Miller asked if they could still allow that provision for any bars that wanted to apply to be open on a Sunday for a holiday or special event. The City Attorney said the best thing to do would be to completely remove the third section, if they still wish to allow the use of special use permits. Miller made a motion to delete the language removing the provision for special use permits, and Weitz seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.
Bloodsworth suggested holding a special meeting at 6:00 p.m. on July 31 for the second reading. Everyone agreed that it was a suitable time.
The first reading of the ordinance will be on July 22, and the second reading will be on July 31.
With the changes made, the ballot questions should read as amending off-premises alcohol package sales hours to Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 12 a.m., and closed on Sundays except for beer and wine retailers, with Sunday hours of 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.; and amending on-premises alcohol consumption hours to the same hours as those for package sales but excluding on Sundays any businesses that are not breweries or restaurants.
The fact that a city council is wasting their time on deciding when you can sell alcohol on Sundays, because it’s God’s day, is an extremely pathetic waste of time and resources. Good god.
This issue will appear on the November ballot. Unfortunately, it is not about alcohol sales; rather, it concerns the implications of a “Historic District” designation when it is not enforced. Many senior citizens live in older homes near this business and would appreciate reasonable considerations regarding business hours and noise levels. Often, aggressive comments arise from patrons of this establishment who are not even residents of our city.
It’s important to note that this business received approval to operate its brewery based on promises that were never fulfilled to the residents. Furthermore, when individuals express disagreement with their stance, they resort to bullying tactics that result in verbal attacks on those who oppose them. Wayne Bloodsworth, a City Commissioner and an exceptional citizen with thousands of hours of community service, was vilified for asserting that our town is unique. He stated that many residents chose to live here because of this uniqueness, only to be ruthlessly attacked for standing up against this mentality.
The citizens of High Springs will have the opportunity to vote on this matter. Let’s respect the democratic process.
Mr. Bloodsworth was “vilified” (your words) for asserting that a citizen of High Springs who lives outside of the down town area should not be allowed to cast a vote with regards to what occurs within the city.
This was also deeply concerning to me. I was so disappointed that Wayne would say such a thing- citizens outside of the downtown area shouldn’t have a say?! This violates his oath as a commissioner. He lost my vote for that!
I believe that he intended that they should give significantly more weight to residents living near the brewery. Many supporters don’t reside in our city and have no vote on this issue.
Agreed! Bloodsworth is a solid man and I’m glad to have his support in this race. I spoke at the last meeting and yes, we don’t want High Springs to be a sprawl of Gainesville! Keep God in High Springs and Gainesville out!
Let’s clear up a few things.
First, the issue is about freedom, specifically, an old ordinance that unfairly restricts one local business from opening on Sundays because it doesn’t meet an arbitrary food sales percentage (which per Katherine Weitz was acknowledged the city has NEVER checked a businesses sales meet the 51% rule). Trying to reframe it as something else is misleading and frankly dishonest.
Second, the “Historic District” argument is a distraction. This isn’t about preserving historic homes or community, it’s about a brewery that operates well within legal sound limits, closes on Sunday because of law that’s not even regulated, and has become a gathering place for locals and visitors. Noise complaints are almost non existent, there have been zero DUI or criminal charges related to the brewery and High Springs PD records reflect that.
Now, about the so-called “promises never fulfilled” please cite a single specific, enforceable agreement the brewery violated. The only real promise made was to contribute to the community, and by all accounts festivals, job creation, local charity support and more, they’ve gone above and beyond for the community and have earned its respect.
As for “bullying tactics,” that’s rich coming from the crowd that has tried to silence dissent, shut down Sunday operations, and refuse to even discuss compromise. The brewery’s supporters are business owners, veterans, parents, retirees residents, not outsiders. Your confusion may be that people from the outside also support the brewery being open on Sunday. I’m sorry that it upsets you that we speak up because we live here, we care, and we’re tired of outdated rules being defended with vague emotional appeals and no data.
Finally, you’re right about one thing the citizens will get to vote. And that’s what terrifies the old guard clinging to their control. Because once the people speak, they can’t hide behind an silly ordinance anymore.
High Springs is evolving. Respecting democracy means allowing all voices to be heard not just the ones that want the clock turned back. Wayne Bloodsworth put his own foot in his mouth with comment about not wanting “outside subdivisions” to have a vote in the matter. You respect democracy but support suppression?