By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— Several city leaders discussed the advantages of having Sunday sales in Shelby County at Pelham’s quarterly Business Council Meeting Jan. 26. Pelham Mayor Gary Waters, City Council President Rick Hayes and City Councilmember Ron Scott spoke in favor of the decision, which will be included on the March 1 ballot.

“This is an economic impact issue on our community,” Scott said. “We have sales tax leakage on Sunday, people going north on U.S. 31, I-65 and on U.S. 280. This is impacting the entire county.”

When people travel north on Sundays so they can have a beer or glass of wine with lunch or dinner, Scott said those people might also stay and shop in the area. He said Shelby County misses out on that sales tax that goes to support local municipalities.

Alabaster and Pelham city schools both benefit from a 1-cent sales tax, according to Scott, so the schools also lose money from people travelling north to shop.

“It’s a significant amount of money,” Scott said. “That tax revenue is not staying in this community.”

This issue also affects businesses moving into the Pelham area, according to both Hayes and Scott. Hayes told attendees that he received tremendous feedback at a real estate development and commercial real estate conference in October.

Many people spoke with him about opportunities in Pelham, but Hayes said the lack of Sunday sales has been a detriment for the city.

“The first time you get told, ‘You don’t have Sunday sales. We are at a disadvantage; we are going to put our restaurant just up the street to miles,’” Hayes said. “The second time, you get a little concerned. The sixth time you hear it, you realize there is a pattern and there is a significant issue.”

Hayes and Waters said they support Sunday sales “whole-heartedly.”

Scott also explained the income the city could generate through Sunday sales. For many businesses, Sunday is the second largest day of income, and Sunday sales contribute to that. Scott said this would be attractive to new businesses and those already located in Pelham.

Sunday sales could attract Sunday concerts at Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, Sunday weddings and conventions at the Pelham Civic Complex and keep golfers at Ballantrae Golf Club on Sundays. These events would also lead to more revenue for hotels, gas stations and more.

Residents can vote for Sunday sales on the March 1 ballot. Scott said the amendment will be near the bottom of the ballot, so voters will have to look for it.

“This is a multilayer economical issue, plain and simple, and we are missing a grand opportunity,” he said.