Citizens Will Get To Vote On Alcohol Sales

CANTON—Wills Point will have a local option election on May 9 for beer and wine retail sales inside the city limits.

Tuesday, Van Zandt County Commissioners approved the call for an election after being presented with a petition carrying enough certified registered voters’ signatures.

The action passed on a 3-0 vote. Precinct 1 Commissioner Ricky LaPrade was not in the courtroom when the vote was taken.

It was nothing more than a required formality by the commissioners’ court.

"We have to give them their day at the polls," Precinct 3 Commissioner Duanne Harvey commented shortly before the action’s approval.

If it is approved by voters, Wills Point will become the first city in Van Zandt County to legalize alcohol sales for off-premise consumption.

The county currently has three restaurants with private club licenses or special use permits for alcoholic beverages, not including country clubs and Veterans of Foreign Wars facilities.

There are also two wineries, one each in Canton and Edgewood, which operate under a 2003 Texas Department of Agriculture provision to sell Texas-produced wines only.

Van Zandt County Clerk Charlotte Bledsoe said the petition for an election, filed with the county on Jan. 7, carried 96 signatures of confirmed registered voters living inside the Wills Point city limits.

"The requirement was 82 signatures and that (required percentage of registered voters) is set forth in the state election code," Bledsoe said.

It will coincide with the Wills Point City Council election on May 9. Bledsoe said an agreement was reached with the city to allow the city to handle administration and judging duties.

Wills Point City Secretary Carla Oldacre said the city council was expected to call for the special election and general election on May 9 at its meeting Tuesday night.

"The local option election will appear on the same ballot as our general election," she said.

Early voting starts April 27 and ends May 5, and will take place at the city hall office from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Two days, April 28 and 29, will provide extended hours for early voting from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. The May 9 election will take place at the Wills Point Chamber of Commerce at 307 N. Fourth St.

Oldacre said the city office can receive mail-in ballot requests no later than 5 p.m. on April 24. The ballots have to be received by election day on May 9.

Bledsoe added that the county will furnish the proper voting equipment to the city.