The liquor sale ordinance moves to the next steps

RAPID CITY, SD (KOTA) – Rapid City citizens could see a change in liquor sales hours after a new ordinance request was voted on at Monday’s City Council meeting with a 5-4 vote in favor of the ordinance which is to be presented. Councilors Lehmann, Roberts, Strommen and Pettigrew voted no.

Councilor Josh Biberdorf first requested the ordinance at last week’s legal and finance meeting, which would change the hours of off-sale liquor use to 10 a.m. to midnight instead of the current 7 a.m. to midnight.

Background: ‘Sobriety time’: Liquor sales hours may change with ordinance change request

Biberdorf said his request was made out of concern for the citizens of Rapid City and the city’s first responders.

Lt. Tim Doyle of the Rapid City Police Department said the first shift for officers begins at 7 a.m. One of the first things officers have to do almost every day is deal with intoxicated people.

“We have people trying to help these people get out of this cycle because they are in a cycle of doing this every day. Many of them are users of Care Campus. So we take them there several times a week. It’s difficult to help them when the services that come on board for the day aren’t even open yet and they’re already so intoxicated they’re ready to go back to detox,” Doyle said.

Ryan Marks, Mobile Medical Captain said medical treatments and exams cannot be performed effectively or ethically while someone is under the influence.

“We are not asking for an entire dry city or a dry day. I would like to see just one moment of clarity, 3 hours to have an impact on these people, to have a moment of clear thinking where we can address some of their chronic medical issues to get them out of the cycle of the streets, the hospital, the discharge, the streets. Marks said.

The ordinance amendment is expected to be on the agenda of the Legal and Finance Committee on August 14th and will be fully discussed at the City Council meeting on August 19th.

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