GULF SHORES - The hot button issue of Monday night’s regular meeting, was whether or not the Gulf Shores City Council should revoke the business license of an area grocery store.

  Gulf Shores Police Chief Arthur Bourne noted during the meeting that El Paisanito, a Hispanic grocery store, located at 2429 E. 2nd St. was visited twice on May 1 during a sting operation. During both visits an underage customer was able to purchase alcohol from underage clerks working at the store, according to police.

  Two days later, a member of the Alabama Beverage Control Board visited the store and discovered the store’s liquor license was expired at which time all alcohol was seized from the business. Referring to a prior violation in 2006 and the latest occurences, Bourne recommended that the council revoke the store’s business license. According to statements during the meeting the store also had allegedly sold cigarettes to minors for $5 per pack.

  The store’s owner Nair Oliveira Jones and her attorney Buddy Brackin argued before the council that the recommendation of revokement by the chief was too harsh for what they called two out of thousands of transactions in a year’s time. Initally, the council appeared to be unmoved by the arguments presented.

  “If it were up to me personally, I think that if a business has one violation of selling alcohol or tobacco to minors, they should be shut down,” said Mayor Billy Duke. Several other council members held sentiments with Duke. However, Councilman Philip Harris suggested that since the violations were directly related to alcohol and tobacco products, the sanctions should directly address those business activities.

  City Attorney David Whetstone asked Jones and Brackin if they would agree to stop selling alcohol and tobacco products at the location, were the council to allow her continue operation. Jones and Brackin acknowledged acceptance and the council voted 5 to 1 for the agreement, with Councilman Stephen Jones [no relation] voting against it.

  At the council’s request, Mrs. Jones agreed to remove all remaining tobacco products from her store by the end of the day on Monday. There were no traces of alcohol or tobacco products during a brief visit to the store around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Councilwoman Carolyn Doughty and Duke warned Jones that this was her “one-time get out of jail free card” and if the store was caught selling alcohol or tobacco products at all in the future it’s business license would indeed be revoked.

  Another issue that has been in heavy discussions over the last several meetings is the official naming of County Road 4 West, also known as West 28th Street and Oyster Bay Road. Planners and developers of property along the stretch would like to see the road renamed Waterway Drive West. The area that runs along the Intracoastal Canal, now referred to as the Waterway District, is expected to experience substantial development in years to come.

  However, residents living along the road have argued before the council that their official 911 addresses use the street name of Oyster Bay Road. During the June 18 committee of the whole meeting, the council heard complaints from the residents, and planned to vote on the measure Monday night. But when the council reached the item on the agenda, several developers from the Waterway District claimed they didn’t receive notification that the issue would be discussed during the June 18 meeting and were subsequently not present.

  The council decided it would be in the best interest of both sides to table the measure until it could be further discussed at a later date. However, the council assured those present Monday night they would only support an official name change of the road that wouldn’t have an adverse effect on residents.