Local News
BREAKING NEWS: Payne Springs citizens take another shot
Submit third petition to county to try to legalize the sale of alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption
A group of Payne Springs citizens are taking a third shot at legalizing alcohol sales in the city.
Henderson County Elections Administrator Denise Hernandez told Commissioners Court Tuesday Payne Springs voters will decide in November on whether to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption. The liquor vote will be administered by the Hernandez’s office in conjunction with the State Constitutional Amendment election held on Nov. 3.
Payne Springs voters rejected propositions legalizing the sale of alcohol in November 2006 and May 2008. State law requires at least a 12 month gap between such election, Hernandez said.
She said a petition containing 70 signatures requesting the election has been submitted to her office and approved. The signature total is identical to the number gathered before the 2008 election.
The Texas Election Code requires that the number of signatures on the petition be equal to or greater than 35 percent of the registered voters who participated in the last gubernatorial election. This year 57 signatures were needed to fulfill that requirement.
The liquor proposition was narrowly defeated in 2006 in an election decided only after provisional ballots were counted. Hernandez said provisional ballots are used to record a vote where there is some question in regard to a voter’s eligibility.
The vote on election night stood at 74 in favor and 66 against. The provisional ballots erased the four vote difference and made the final tally 74-66 against.
The May 2008 vote was also fairly close with the proposition falling to defeat by a 100 to 86 margin.
“The issue is revenue,” Payne Springs Mayor Michael McDonald said prior to the 2008 vote. “The cities north and south of Payne Springs are all wet. We lose a lot of revenue by people passing through our city.
McDonald said revenues from liquor sales will supply funds for road maintenance and public safety concerns.
In other action Tuesday, Commissioners:
— approved a revision of the Henderson County Purchasing Policy;
— approved a contract with DenTrust for inmate dental services at the County Jail;
— approved an agreement to assist the City of Poynor with installation of a culvert on Pine Street and
— authorized payment of bills in the amount of $151,485.
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