Trinity Council Divided On Alcohol Vote
BY DARRICK IGNASIAK, HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE
POSTED: 8:47 am EDT April 13, 2011
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TRINITY, N.C. -- Members of the Trinity City Council remain at odds when the city should call for a special election for alcohol sales.
At its preagenda meeting Tuesday, the City Council decided to consider a resolution next week calling for an alcoholic beverage election. The City Council voted 4-1 to place the issue on its agenda for Tuesday. Councilmen Tyler Earnst, Kelly Grooms and Barry Lambeth were absent from the meeting.
Councilwoman Karen Bridges voted against placing the item on the agenda. Bridges said she favors having the special election during November’s municipal election.
“It’s a big inconvenience to people, especially if you are going to try to have it in July,” Bridges said. “A lot of people are gone … all summer long. A purpose of the referendum is to allow citizens of Trinity to have a vote. You can send them to a poll once and not inconvenience them.”
The City Council must pass a resolution to call for a special election on alcohol sales. With a majority vote of the City Council requesting a special election, the board of elections would then set the date for the referendum, which may not be sooner than 60 days or later than 120 days from when the request was received from the governing body to the board of elections. Councilman Tommy Johnson and Robbie Sikes, as well as Councilwoman Kristen Varner, said they favor the city having the special election in the summer.
“I make no bones about it,” Sikes said. “I’m in favor of July. I’m in favor for this being one election, and this being the only focal point.”
According to the Randolph County Board of Elections, the city will pay an estimated $7,330 to hold the special election, with all three of Trinity’s precincts open. With one precinct open and no early voting for a special election, the city would pay an estimated $5,865. Combining the alcohol referendum with the November election would cost an estimated $4,683.
If the referendum to allow the operation of ABC stores in Trinity passes in July, it would get $6,300 from the state. If it passed in November, the city would get $3,150. In 2007, Trinity residents defeated the sale of malt beverages, mixed drinks, unfortified wine and the operation of ABC stores in Trinity.
This article appeared in Wednesday's edition of the High Point Enterprise.
Read more: http://www.wxii12.com/news/27529092/detail.html#ixzz1RjZLFSpn
