BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
A public hearing Tuesday before the Prattville City Council meeting focused on Bama Lanes/Blue Iguana, with a recommendation to NOT revoke the liquor license, which covers both businesses.
“It is my recommendation that, at this time, revocation not be considered. I know that Bama Lanes’ owner and their attorney are here to answer any questions you guys might have about what specifically they are going to do to follow these guidelines,” Prattville City Attorney Andrew Odom told the council.
The public hearing concerning the possible revocation of the liquor license came about due to several issues that involved the parking lot area for the Blue Iguana/Bama Lanes, crowds gathering, shots fired and one man dying from gunshot wounds.
As for the license, one license is currently held that covers both businesses. Earlier suggestions by Police Committee members were to revoke the license and then require each business to have a separate license.
For now, no action will be taken to revoke the liquor license as the property owner will continue to work with city officials.
Security would not just be inside the building but in the parking lot. Bama Lanes is unique in that the business does own a portion of the parking lot, where the majority of issues involving law enforcement intervention have occurred.
Councilman Robert Strichik said that he and Councilman Blair Gornto have probably received the most questions from residents with concerns for safety.
“(Blair’s) district butts up to mine,” Strichik said. “My concern still is, I know it is a business and people work there. But kids work there at Zaxby’s, and Arby’s and people around the bowling alley. It is going to take one bullet. As far as the professional security, how will it be different from the security they are already using?”
Odom answered, “Certified security have to undergo some type of state authorized training. And essentially get that, get a certificate, show us they are more than just Joe Blow off the street but they have undergone some sort of training. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an off duty law enforcement officer. It could be security personnel they (already) have that undergo this training.”
Another suggestion is to lock the interior door between the two buildings during regular business hours.
“It would basically remain locked during business hours so that customers from the bar could not come out into Bama Lanes and visa versa,” Odom said. “I have also discussed this issue with the Fire Department. Would that be a fire code issue? They have told me that it would not be.”
Odom said the city has had successful discussions with the owner, Steve Landers, and his attorney Jim DeBardalaben. “Anytime we can try to reach a compromise, and work towards some guideline and see improvements…and we have seen improvements at least in the last 30 days. We want to continue down that road. I will say this again that revocation is a fluid issue. This is not a binding contract. This does not prevent it from coming back up in the future should it need to.”
In the public hearing, no one spoke in favor of revoking the license.
DeBardalaben spoke against the revocation resolution.
“We have already put in stronger lighting on the outside on the part we own. We are working with the Fire Department…to make sure we are doing it right,” he said referring to securing the door between the two businesses.
“On the certified personnel there are two or three businesses we are talking to right now to provide that. These people are supposed to be experts and tell us how many people they will need.”
DeBardalaben continued, “One thing that has been a problem, Steve Landers owns a certain portion (of the parking lot) and we can control people on that portion,” he said. He explained it would be as simple as a person causing problems to step across a line, and the owner would be powerless to do anything. “We have a problem with some younger people that stay out later and they loiter.”
DeBardalaben said a stronger loitering law would benefit property owners in general.
“We have no interest in having any type of problems. Problems kill business,” he said. “We will police our property.”
He said that problems today are a sign of modern society.
“When I was growing up, it wasn’t like that. In high school and in the back of my truck and everyone else’s was a loaded shotgun. We didn’t have any shootings, we didn’t have any problems. That is just the way it was. Kids would whittle with their knives at recess or break. We can’t do that…the world has changed. And we are trying to change with it.”
