Posted 12:58 am Thursday, October 27, 2011
Murchison Alcohol Proposition Up For Vote
By BETTY WATERS
Staff Writer
MURCHISON — A drive seeking a decision by Murchison residents on a proposition to legalize sale of alcoholic beverages for off premises consumption is coming to a head.
Early voting, which began Monday, will continue 8 a.m. to noon weekdays through Nov. 4 at City Hall. Regular voting will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 8 at Murchison School.
The proposal has supporters and opponents.
Ray Smith, who runs Murchison General Store and owns a shopping center, walked the streets for three or four months knocking on doors and collecting signatures on a petition requesting the election.
Staff Writer
MURCHISON — A drive seeking a decision by Murchison residents on a proposition to legalize sale of alcoholic beverages for off premises consumption is coming to a head.
Early voting, which began Monday, will continue 8 a.m. to noon weekdays through Nov. 4 at City Hall. Regular voting will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 8 at Murchison School.
The proposal has supporters and opponents.
Ray Smith, who runs Murchison General Store and owns a shopping center, walked the streets for three or four months knocking on doors and collecting signatures on a petition requesting the election.
Describing the campaign as “low profile,” Smith said, “I'm not personally advocating whether (Murchison residents) should have access to a bottle of beer or a bottle of wine; the townspeople can make a determination (in the Nov. 8 election) of whether we should or should not have it.”
Before starting the petition drive, Smith said he checked with small towns that have legalized sale of alcohol and found they did not experience an increase in crime.
But Murchison Mayor Mike Hill said he anticipates the sale of alcohol will create problems making it necessary to start a police department. “I'm looking at about $135,000 the first year just to jump-start one from scratch,” Hill said.
“This (the alcohol proposition) can be a Pandora's Box is what I'm trying to say,” Hill said. “I get chewed out just about every day for and against liquor being on the ballot.”
Before starting the petition drive, Smith said he checked with small towns that have legalized sale of alcohol and found they did not experience an increase in crime.
But Murchison Mayor Mike Hill said he anticipates the sale of alcohol will create problems making it necessary to start a police department. “I'm looking at about $135,000 the first year just to jump-start one from scratch,” Hill said.
“This (the alcohol proposition) can be a Pandora's Box is what I'm trying to say,” Hill said. “I get chewed out just about every day for and against liquor being on the ballot.”
Hill signed the petition, but said he only signed in order to get the proposition on the ballot so residents could vote on the issue. “I believe everybody deserves their day in court,” Hill said.
When Smith came to the mayor with the petition, Hill said, “I (told him) I would sign it … but I will fight it every which way I can if it makes it to the ballot.”
Smith said he collected about 70 signatures “by myself” on the petition and didn't want anybody else involved and subjected to criticism. “I was big enough to take it,” Smith said, recalling a few doors were slammed in his face and he received “nasty notes.”
The office of Elections Administrator Denise Hernandez verified that at least 50 registered voters signed the petition, which met state law requirements. After the petition was ruled valid, Henderson County commissioners voted, 4-1, to call the local option alcohol election.
When Smith came to the mayor with the petition, Hill said, “I (told him) I would sign it … but I will fight it every which way I can if it makes it to the ballot.”
Smith said he collected about 70 signatures “by myself” on the petition and didn't want anybody else involved and subjected to criticism. “I was big enough to take it,” Smith said, recalling a few doors were slammed in his face and he received “nasty notes.”
The office of Elections Administrator Denise Hernandez verified that at least 50 registered voters signed the petition, which met state law requirements. After the petition was ruled valid, Henderson County commissioners voted, 4-1, to call the local option alcohol election.
“Let the people make a decision,” Smith said. “If they decide not to do it, so be it; I don't have a bit of a problem with that. If they decide to do it, I don't have a bit of a problem with that either.”
He predicted, “If you just tell people the facts, they will make the right decision.”
Depending on the economy and based on rough estimates, Smith estimated that legalizing sale of alcoholic beverages for off premises consumption would generate about $20,000 in sales tax revenue the first year for the city.
It may or may not be that much, Smith said, saying the sum could be $10,000 or if the economy comes roaring back, it might be more than $20,000.
He predicted, “If you just tell people the facts, they will make the right decision.”
Depending on the economy and based on rough estimates, Smith estimated that legalizing sale of alcoholic beverages for off premises consumption would generate about $20,000 in sales tax revenue the first year for the city.
It may or may not be that much, Smith said, saying the sum could be $10,000 or if the economy comes roaring back, it might be more than $20,000.
The city needs additional revenue, Smith said. More than 40 years old, the city sewer system is in dire need of major overhaul, but currently the city‘s only income is from water bills, contracts with utility companies such as the railroads and telephone companies, Smith said.
Grant money available from the state is down 47 percent and from the federal government, down more than 33 percent, Smith said.
“More people are applying for fewer dollar grants. We have to fix our own sewer and our own water; we have to have a revenue stream,” Smith said.
If city revenue from alcoholic sales is just $10,000, the city would be that much closer to fixing the sewer system or paving streets or fixing city equipment, Smith said.
Grant money available from the state is down 47 percent and from the federal government, down more than 33 percent, Smith said.
“More people are applying for fewer dollar grants. We have to fix our own sewer and our own water; we have to have a revenue stream,” Smith said.
If city revenue from alcoholic sales is just $10,000, the city would be that much closer to fixing the sewer system or paving streets or fixing city equipment, Smith said.
The mayor acknowledged that the city could use any kind of revenue increase, but said, “I don’t agree with the way he (Smith) is trying to raise revenue; I do not agree with trying to raise revenue through the sale of alcohol.”
Hill said, “I’ve been mayor three years and so far I’ve been able to raise a little revenue with the garbage service that we started. As far as trying to raise revenue, I’d like to see more businesses come in.”
The mayor said that with funds from water and garbage services, the city has been able to put money back in a coffer and “pay our way as we go along” to make improvements. The city also received a grant to partially upgrade the sewer system.
Murchison residents view things practically, Smith said, indicating he believes they will view the alcohol issue from a practical standpoint.
“I’d like to think my ambition is good. I want to do what’s right for my town; I want my town to have some money,” he said.
Legalizing sale of alcoholic beverages for off premises consumption would be beneficial to the town, Smith maintained.
If someone built a liquor store, that would create jobs, Smith said. And if he added liquor sales in his store, that would entail construction and adding jobs, he said.
Making alcoholic beverages available locally would eliminate the danger of people driving to Athens to purchase liquor, Smith said. But the mayor said it doesn’t bother him to go to Athens for a beer.
Smith said he was asked about a year ago by some city officials that he did not name to start the petition drive for an alcohol election. But the mayor said that was not true.
Hill said, “I’ve been mayor three years and so far I’ve been able to raise a little revenue with the garbage service that we started. As far as trying to raise revenue, I’d like to see more businesses come in.”
The mayor said that with funds from water and garbage services, the city has been able to put money back in a coffer and “pay our way as we go along” to make improvements. The city also received a grant to partially upgrade the sewer system.
Murchison residents view things practically, Smith said, indicating he believes they will view the alcohol issue from a practical standpoint.
“I’d like to think my ambition is good. I want to do what’s right for my town; I want my town to have some money,” he said.
Legalizing sale of alcoholic beverages for off premises consumption would be beneficial to the town, Smith maintained.
If someone built a liquor store, that would create jobs, Smith said. And if he added liquor sales in his store, that would entail construction and adding jobs, he said.
Making alcoholic beverages available locally would eliminate the danger of people driving to Athens to purchase liquor, Smith said. But the mayor said it doesn’t bother him to go to Athens for a beer.
Smith said he was asked about a year ago by some city officials that he did not name to start the petition drive for an alcohol election. But the mayor said that was not true.
