Sunday liquor sales could soon become a reality in Albert Lea.

The Albert Lea City Council will have a first reading on amending an ordinance to lift the city’s ban on Sunday sales on Monday. The council will address the issue after the state Legislature this year approved removing the state’s old blue law that made Minnesota one of 12 states to ban Sunday liquor sales.

Liquor stores via off-sale licensees will be allowed to open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays beginning in July. The city of Albert Lea is expected to follow state guidelines.

The council is not expected to lift the ban until at least June 12, said Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams.

First Ward Councilor Rich Murray said he doesn’t necessarily support the measure, but “I don’t believe we have a lot of choice in the matter.”

Small liquor stores that would have limited  employees on a shift could be faced with a tough decision to open on Sundays and lose family time, or close the store on Sundays and lose business, he said.

“They need to have a little time off for their families, too,” Murray said. He expects the measure to pass the council.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

Adams noted concerns he said have been expressed across the state about lifting the ban on Sunday liquor sales.

“One of the concerns is that the small liquor stores are going to have a hard time staffing additional work for another day to compete against some of the larger liquor stores throughout the state that might have more capacity on staffing availability,” he said.

Adams said he is not sure what the economic impact of lifting the Sunday ban will have on the community. City officials discussed extending weekday liquor store hours from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. as allowed by state statute, but decided to keep the limit as is, he said.