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Bertie booze on November ballot
Published Thursday, August 20, 2009
WINDSOR – Citizens of Bertie County will have the opportunity to approve the sale of mixed drinks.
The Bertie County Commissioners, at their Monday night meeting, approved the measure being placed on the November ballot at the request of the Windsor Board of Commissioners.
Windsor Commissioner Collins Cooper and Mayor Pro-Tempore Jimmy Hoggard were present at the meeting to make the request. Cooper said the Windsor Commission unanimously approved seeking approval for economic development reasons.
“It has been projected that the town of Windsor is losing $2 million annually,” Cooper said. “We feel like it would be an economic boon if it were approved.”
Cooper said in a telephone interview with the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald Wednesday that the information came from a survey done for the town which said more than $2 million was spent annually by people leaving the town to eat at other restaurants.”
“If we could keep just 30 percent of that in town, it would be huge,” Cooper said. “We’re looking at it purely from an economic development standpoint.”
He said surrounding towns such as Ahoskie, Edenton, Plymouth and Williamston all had approved mixed drink sales.
The Windsor board had to come to the county because of North Carolina General Statute 18B-600 which says, “A city may hold a malt beverage or unfortified wine election only if the county in which the city is located has already held such an election, the vote in the last county election was against the sale of that kind of alcoholic beverage and…” other criteria are met.
Bertie County Attorney Lloyd Smith explained the statute and told commissioners they would have to place the matter on the ballot and then, if it were defeated, Windsor officials could proceed with an attempt to have it passed only in their municipality.
Commission Chairman Norman M. Cherry Sr. asked if the decision had to be made Monday night and was told it did if the matter was to get on the November ballot.
Bertie Commissioner Rick Harrell said he didn’t have an issue because all it was doing was putting the matter before voters.
“All they’re asking is to put it before the voters and let the people decide,” he said.
The town and county officials discussed the matter and agreed that what was being requested was a ballot found in NGGS 18B-602(h) which reads, “To permit the sale of mixed beverages in hotels, restaurants, private clubs, community theaters and convention centers.”
The ballot will have two answers – either for or against.
Bertie County Manager Zee Lamb said the town was looking at the referendum as a possible way of improving economic development.
“It’s an economic development proposal,” Lamb said. “As a separate matter, the town also voted to begin paying the county $5,000 annually to help with economic development. They are putting their money where their mouth is.”
Bertie Commission Vice Chairman L.C. Hoggard III made the motion to place the item on the ballot with Commissioner Charles Smith offering a second. It passed without objection.
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Comments
Posted by bertiehomeguard (anonymous) on August 20, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good job guys. This is a long time coming.
Posted by thedarkside (anonymous) on August 20, 2009 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think this is a great move for the town and the county. Maybe Arnold Palmer will stay in Windsor when he comes to Innsbrook
Posted by OldPirate (anonymous) on August 20, 2009 at 5:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe when I get to go back home they'll be fine dining in Trap, or at least an Outback in Powellsville, or next spring a refreshing vodka drink with a plate of SC herring in Colerain.
I'm being facetious. Each Bertie citizen should study the facts and vote their conscience.
Posted by myopinion (anonymous) on August 20, 2009 at 10:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
isn't there something else more important to be thinking about and voting on?????????? This is just another way for somebody that drinks a little too much causing trouble on the highways.....
Posted by the_popo (anonymous) on August 21, 2009 at 9:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If someone wants to get out and drink and drive they can go to many places to get drunk. This is about providing opportunities for resturants to come to the area and have a viable business. I for one would like to see some resturants come to this area and drive the over-priced places like the heritage house out of business. If some of these businesses had some competition things would be better for everyone in the area. I highly doubt anything "fine" will ever grace the streets of trap or powesville just based on the quality of its population.
Posted by myopinion (anonymous) on August 21, 2009 at 10:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
well lets provide the opportunity for real jobs.........yes there needs to be more resturants in the area but this is only going to give free range for people to get drunk! That's why this town is so full of drunks, drug addicts and criminals....they need something productive to do!!!
Posted by thedarkside (anonymous) on August 21, 2009 at 11:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dont you think that restaurants will lead to real jobs? If people get work, they can attract other businesses. The problem with this area is we have become complacent with nothing. Everybody s goal is to get on welfare and let the government take care of them. The only way we will ever get over this attitude is to change things because it sure is not working now
Posted by myopinion (anonymous) on August 22, 2009 at 12:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL! yes I think resturants can lead to real jobs...how many resturants that have opened and closed have lead to more jobs???? yes this area is very closed minded..that's why i don't live there anymore and have no plans to ever live there again......my family that still lives there doesn't need welfare they have the right mindset to do better and work for a living...change is not opening another resturant to give people a place to get drunk...change is standing opposed to these types of things that leads to more violence and idol minds......it's doing the same old thing all over again.....the people that have become complacent with nothing are the people who will vote for this because it benefits their habits....what will change??? that another resturant opened in the same building that the last one closed in.....and then this will close too......
Posted by faith_based (anonymous) on August 23, 2009 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sure the area needs something that will bring more people to the area, but why does it have to be a place to get drunk. People can shop the grocery stores and get whatever they need to support their drinking habit. Why not turn the building into some type of recreation center? This would provide a positive avenue for adults and children. This would help keep the children off the streets. This would also provide exercise to combat the obesity rate. People care about their children and will come to an area that provides positive entertainment for the children.
Posted by bertie_mom (anonymous) on August 26, 2009 at 10:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Everyone commenting above in opposition to the proposal is missing the point here. Bertie County (and Windsor) ALREADY allow the sale of beer and wine in restaurants. Therefore if people want "a place to get drunk" they already have one. I hardly think there has been a slew of drunks in town just because you can buy beer with your pizza at Lasca's, correct? This measure will allow the ADDITION of "mixed drinks" - i.e. liquor mixed with a non-alcoholic beverage - to the drink menu. That's it. In my opinion there is not much of a difference between having an orange juice with vodka in it and having a glass of wine or a bottle of beer. Both contain the same amount of alcohol so your arguments against the measure make no rational sense. Furthermore, having people who travel (IN A CAR) OUT of the county in order to eat at restaurants that DO have liquor licenses is a little more concerning than having restaurants IN the county that do so - since that means people are driving further distances after having something to drink!!!
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