Residents say no to longer bar hours

Tyler Morton holds framed photographs of his two family members who were killed in drunk driving-related car crashes. Morton, a Sealy teenager, turned out at last week's public hearing to speak out against allowing bars inside the city limits to sell alcohol until 2 a.m.

Sealy residents are urging city council members to listen and decide with their hearts when it comes to an upcoming vote on whether or not to extend the hours in which a bar inside the Sealy city limits can sell alcohol.

An estimated 125 residents - some living outside the city limits - turned out Thursday for the first public hearing regarding the issue - weeks before the council is slated to sit down and make a final decision on the matter.

At hand is whether or not bars inside Sealy’s city limits should be allowed to sell alcohol until 2 a.m. Currently, Sealy bars are allowed to sell alcohol until midnight Monday through Friday and until 1 a.m. on Saturday.

“To say we want to extend the hours to do what we’re doing means that what we’re doing is OK, and I don’t believe it’s OK,” said Central Baptist Church’s John Rosselli, one of two dozen who voiced their opinion during the hearing.

“I’m not in that business. I don’t see how you could be in that business,” he continued. “To waste time on this kind of issue is kind of like talking about burning the American flag. We shouldn’t be wasting our time on either.”

City Manager Chris Coffman facilitated the meeting, held at Liedertafel Hall. Each speaker was given three minutes to address the council, who for the most part sat back and listened to remarks.

Anne Griffin likened the situation to a Friday night football game, comparing the city council to the offensive team and the city’s emergency responders - including the Sealy police and fire departments - to defensive players.

She said the two teams must work together to do what’s best for Sealy residents.

“Yet (Mayor Nick Tirey) and three other council members voted in favor of a ruling that is in direct opposition to the wisdom of their defensive team,” Griffin said, referring to Sealy Police Chief John Tollett’s stance against extending bar hours.

Council members previously approved the first reading of the proposed ordinance with Tirey and council members Yvonne Johnson, Steve Wilson, and Stephen Mieth voting in favor of extending bar hours. Councilmen Rick Fogle, Larry Koy, and Harold Hradil voted against the proposal.

“What price are we willing to pay to see growth and expansion come to our city? Some costs are too high,” Griffin said.

Discussion of safety concerns soon rose when Don Lindsay questioned the number of officers on duty between the hours of midnight and 2 a.m. Tollett shot down claims there are two units and at least one sergeant on duty during each shift.

Much to the shock of the council and Coffman, Tollett said having a sergeant on duty is not always an option due to scheduling time off.

“That’s news to me,” Coffman responded.

Another speaker claimed 50 percent of the nation’s driving while intoxicated arrests are made between the hours of midnight and 2 a.m.

Lindsay argued the owners of Ropers Club - the main bar in question since it stands to possibly be annexed into Sealy’s city limits - knew what they were doing when they opened the bar in close proximity to the city limits, while taking advantage of extended hours allowed in Austin County.

All but one man - Raymond Johnson, owner of Stone Fox - spoke out against the proposal. Johnson opened his Sealy-based bar in 1971.

“This town needs a 2 a.m. license,” he said. “This town is growing. Ain’t nothing wrong with it. If you get drunk, you get drunk. The people need to feel free to drink until 2 a.m. if they want to.”

Cliff Brast, an Austin County resident, countered Johnson’s claims.

“When I was a drunk, I was the best drunk in the world. I went to the clubs for one reason, and that was to get drunk,” Brast said.

He stressed extending the current closing time by two hours would only mean that those drinking would be even more intoxicated when they left the bar, most likely getting into their vehicles and driving home.

“And when you get drunk, you don’t care about nobody around you. Getting in the vehicle - that right there tells you that you don’t care about nobody else,” Brast added.

Many questioned what good could be done between the hours of midnight and 2 a.m.

“I don’t see that this is going to benefit the youth at all, or anyone in Sealy,” said Tyler Morton, who stood before the council holding two framed photographs of family members who were killed in drunk driving accidents.

“I’m here to represent the youth of Sealy,” he said. Both of his family members were killed in fatal accidents between the hours of 1 and 3 a.m. “I don’t see why the bars need to be open any later. You’re just going to have more accidents.”

Speakers ranged from the young Morton to senior adults concerned about the safety and well-being of their community, and from those who claimed to have never touched a drop of alcohol to admitted drinkers.

According to Tom Knapp, between Dec. 16, 2006 and to date, there have been 12 alcohol-related deaths in Austin County. Eight of those were inside Sealy city limits.

“No matter what you say, after 30-plus years in the funeral business, the more you drink, the drunker you get. Please check your hearts before you vote to extend these drinking hours,” Knapp urged the council.

Ester Baker, who works with Sealy families who have children with developmental delays, said there is a direct correlation between drinking and the children she sees each day.

“There are learning disabilities that go with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and they are extensive,” she said. “In Sealy, we do not have the medical facilities to address a child born with FAS. Sealy is responsible for serving these children.”

Amid reports that annexing the land that holds Ropers Club and other businesses would bring new revenue to the city, Sharon Ann Thyler questioned if anyone had taken time to put pencil to paper and calculate the new levels of revenue and what the cost would be to residents by way of injuries, more ambulance calls, and additional time put in by emergency responders.

More than one speaker suggested the council put the issue on a ballot and let the residents of Sealy decide what is best.

“As a representative body of people, I would like for you to reconsider and think about what the people have to say,” Frank Lucas charged the council. “The majority of the people would vote against this extending two hours. I don’t know anything that’s going to solve this other than a public vote.”

Council members took no action at the meeting. Coffman plans to present information about a possible annexation at the council’s next meeting, slated for Oct. 8 at 6 p.m.

The council plans to take action on the second reading of the proposed ordinance in coming weeks.

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