GENTRY — City council members may look at taking a proactive step to prevent a bar or tavern from opening in Gentry should voters open the doors to liquor sales in Benton County.

Councilwoman Janice Arnold, at a July 24 committee meeting, suggested the city take action toget an ordinance on the books by the November election banning bars and saloons within Gentry city limits.

“We need to check about getting an ordinance to ban saloons and beer joints (in Gentry) before the November election,” Arnold said.

Arnold said she was not necessarily opposed to allowing package liquor sales but saidshe didn’t want “a belly-up bar” in Gentry.

Councilman Jim Furgason suggested such an ordinance might ban licenses to businesses whose primary sales would be made up of alcoholic beverages consumed on site. He suggested the ordinance might restrict licensing based on the percent alcoholic beverages play in overall sales.

Though no ordinance was yet on Monday’s council agenda, the matter is being referred to city attorney Jay Williams for study and suggestions on possible options for the city should voters allow package liquor sales and eventually also permit bars and saloons in the county.

For more information on the liquor-sales issue, see the related articles on Page 4B.

News, Pages 1 on 08/08/2012