Leavenworth ? This community and nearby Lansing have joined the growing trend of cities near the Missouri border that have approved measures allowing the sale of liquor on Sundays.

City leaders in both Lansing and Leavenworth approved measures last week that allow alcohol to be sold on Sunday and holidays.

Lansing’s ordinance allows liquor stores to open from noon to 7 p.m. Sundays and holidays.

Leavenworth adopted ordinances allowing stores to sell alcohol from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday and holidays, except Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Leavenworth commissioners expanded their original measure to allow grocery and convenience stores to sell beer and wine coolers on Sundays.

Leavenworth commissioners heard the first public criticism of their actions from Thomas Cook, who said commissioners “should honor the Sabbath.”

“Pushing Sunday sales is enabling those with a drinking problem,” Cook said.

The ordinances in Leavenworth and Lansing will go into effect in 60 days, allowing time for protest petitions. If there are no protests, the ordinances will become law.

Kansas law prohibits alcohol sales on Sundays and holidays. Municipalities near the Missouri border, however, have long fought for Sunday sales, because Kansas residents take their business to Missouri. That state allows liquor sales on Sundays and holidays.

Wyandotte County began the trend to allow Sunday sales last fall, arguing that it could opt out because the state’s Liquor Control Act does not apply uniformly to all cities.

In March, Wyandotte County District Judge John Bukaty upheld those county ordinances. An appeal by the attorney general is pending in the state Supreme Court.

In May, Wyandotte County also approved the sale of alcohol on Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day.