By Sara Quam Hours of alcohol serving was again a part of the Luverne City Council agenda Tuesday.The Howling Dog Saloon last week requested a waiver to the ordinance that says alcohol can’t be served Christmas Eve after 8 p.m.Manager Jodi Christy said the request was because Christmas Eve is on a Saturday this year and that is the busiest day of the week for the bar. Since the waiver wasn’t granted, Christy and owner Troy Tuma requested the council revisit the ordinance itself, saying that state law allows businesses to be open regular hours on holidays.Tuma said, "Not everybody is religious and not everyone has a family. I would ask that you allow it to be up to the businesses."Councilman Esther Frakes said she thought the public "no" vote for Sunday liquor showed the community’s preference on the holiday issue."I can’t vote in favor of changing the ordinance," she said. "I feel that is what best represents my constituents."Councilman Pat Baustian said, "I think 8 p.m. is late enough on Christmas Eve, too."The Tuesday meeting didn’t include a vote, but it probably won’t come before the city again for lack of support among the council members.No councilmen spoke in favor of changing the ordinance and leaving the Christmas Eve issue up to business owners.Serving until 2 a.m. The Howling Dog also requested the city change language in its ordinance that says liquor can’t be served any night after 1 a.m.Two years ago, state law changed, allowing establishments to serve until 2 a.m., but Luverne’s ordinance never changed.A city may be more restrictive than state law, but not more lenient.With no request before the Council until now, the ordinance stayed at 1 a.m.Council members said they wouldn’t object to adding an extra hour to the allowed time of alcohol serving. Administrator John Call said he asked the Rock County Sheriff for an opinion. The sheriff said law enforcement would enforce laws the same and wouldn’t be burdened by the change.The cities of Worthington and Adrian allow serving until 2 a.m. and cities in South Dakota and Iowa have served until 2 a.m. for years.Luverne establishments say that has always been a source of competition for them.To get a license to sell until 2 a.m., there is a state fee that ranges from $200 to $1,000, depending on gross receipt sales. The city itself may also impose a separate fee for businesses that want their liquor license to be until 2 a.m.