There may be a little confusion in the bill’s wording, but sponsors of the bill and those who support it, are sure the legislation placing Sunday alcohol sales in Dallas County will be quite clear before the measure appears on November’s general election ballot.

During Monday’s Dallas County Commission meeting, the members unanimously approved a resolution that placed the measure on the November ballot, but did so noting the bill stated it called for Sunday alcohol sales in the unincorporated areas of Dallas County, not the municipalities.

“This problem came from when the bill was written and parts of it were copied from another piece of legislation. The word ‘unincorporated’ was in that wording. It shouldn’t have been. It will probably be taken care of this week,” Bama Budweiser general manager of operations Steve South said Monday evening. “I have been assured that it was a mistake and it will be corrected.”

The legislation — that was supported by members of the Dallas County delegation to the Alabama Legislature — would allow Sunday alcohol sales from noon to 9:30 p.m. each Sunday.

“I want everyone to know that we were not consulted in any way about this bill before it was introduced,” Dallas County Probate Judge Kim Ballard said when introducing the agenda item. “The vote we take today in no way shows our support or lack of support for this measure. All this vote today does is place it on November’s ballot for the people of Dallas County to decide.”

The commission members were confused as to the wording of the bill, which clearly calls for the alcohol sales to be in unincorporated areas only. If correct, which South said it is not, that would mean those retailers in Selma, Valley Grande and Orrville would still not be allowed to sell alcohol on Sunday.

“Again, I have been told the governor will likely correct the issue with an executive amendment,” South said of the legislative procedure needed since Gov. Robert Bentley has already signed the bill, with the unincorporated wording in it. “I was told Saturday that this wouldn’t be a problem.”

South is working closely with the Alabama Beer Association in getting this measure on November’s ballot, which he said, if approved would move Dallas County to a similar position as neighboring counties.

“Wilcox, Perry and Lowndes counties already offer Sunday alcohol sales,” South said. “And if you don’t think people are buying beer on Sunday, drive to Benton and see.”

South said he would expect a 4 to 6 percent increase in sales in Dallas County if voters approve the measure in November.

Ballard said once he heard this legislation would be passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor, he approached the authors of the bill to ensure the measure was on November’s ballot and not part of any called special election.

“By having it on November’s general election ballot, that will save us a tremendous amount of money,” Ballard said. “In this case, adding the measure to the ballot doesn’t cost the county anything.”

Currently, Wilcox County allows Sunday alcohol sales throughout the day, while Perry County allows sales on Sunday after 2 p.m. Lowndes County currently allows Sunday alcohol sales after noon.