GIRARD, Kan. — In accordance with Kansas House Bill 2481, the Girard City Council unanimously decided on Monday night to permit extended sales of alcohol and cereal malt beverages (CMBs) during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to the legislation, bars, restaurants, and liquor stores can operate 23 hours a day from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 11 through July 19. The Girard Council’s meeting fell just after the official date began. The ordinance began on Monday, June 15, however. 

“Well, we didn’t realize that the state had passed a law regarding alcohol sales from June 11 to July 19 for the soccer games,” said city administrator Johanna O’Brien. 

“The World Cup. It’s not soccer, it’s futbol,” said city attorney Steve Angermayer as the council chuckled. 

O’Brien noted that the city’s ordinance is similar to the town of Merriam in northeast Kansas.

“The convenience stores have been calling Heather (Ryan, city clerk) asking and I think that was last week so we decided to put in on the agenda and I had originally looked at the city of Pittsburg’s. They had an ordinance,” she said. “You can either opt in or out and it was really detailed. Obviously, they have a lot more bars and address caterers and all that stuff. So, I found this one from the city of Merriam and just converted it for Girard.” 

Girard Police Chief Jesse Snider commented that he did not have a problem with the extended hours of sale and consumption.

In other business, Girard Police Chief Jesse Snider discussed the potential purchase of a 2013 Ford Explorer with 100,000 miles, which was previously owned by the Derby Police Department. 

“We’ve had it looked over, and we only noticed one issue,” said Snider. “The seller is willing to drop the price to make up for the cost so we can get those fixed and not be out any more money. It already has all the wiring ran in it, it has lights hooked up to it, doesn’t have an overhead but we have an extra we can put on that. It has the back seats replaced with the hard plastic … I just think it’s a really good deal.” 

Snider noted that he plans to use the Ford Explorer as a backup until it can be used as a patrol car. 

“We have almost all the equipment we need for it, we just need to have it hooked up,” he added. “I think altogether, our estimate is about $1,000 to $1,500 altogether into it. We’d have someone professionally put everything together. We just need the overhead lights put on it and order a radio and it’ll be ready to go.”

The council agreed with the purchase of the 2013 Ford Explorer for $3,600. A motion and vote was not required, however, because the purchase was within the department’s spending authority,

“It’s a really, really good deal,” said Mayor Nick Cheney.

The next Girard City Council meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, June 29, at the Girard City Hall on the southeast side of the building, located at 120 N. Ozark St. Council meetings may also be viewed on YouTube by searching for “City of Girard, Kansas.” For more information, contact Girard City Hall at 620-724-8918.

This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews.