Petition Forms To Be Issued For Alcohol Election

The petition drive for a local option election in Van Zandt County Precinct 1 is about to begin in earnest.

Tuesday, Van Zandt County Clerk Charlotte Bledsoe told the county commissioners’ court that the signed applications for three different petitions had been returned to her office. Bledsoe said she intends to send the full petition forms before the end of the week.

"We received three applications on Thursday (May 21)…there are three separate issues being considered. They will need a minimum of 776 signatures on each petition," Bledsoe said.

She also said the three local option issues being considered are beer and wine for off-premise consumption, all alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption — a measure that would allow for package stores selling liquors — and mixed beverages sold by food and beverage certificate holders.

Precinct 1 does include a portion of Canton, primarily land north of Highway 64 and between Highway 19 and Farm-to-Market Road 17, according to commissioners’ office secretary Ruthie McAdoo.

The precinct also includes Grand Saline, Edgewood and Fruitvale.

"They will have 60 days to obtain the needed number of signatures. This will be for the November election period," Bledsoe stated.

She said she has received an inquiry about a possible local option election for Precinct 3 for beer and wine for off-premise consumption. However, Bledsoe added about the seriousness of the inquiry, "I’m not real sure of that one."

If one or more of the Precinct 1 petitions pass all requirements, it would set the stage for a local option election for Nov. 3

The city of Edgewood has had two local option elections in its history, in 1989 and again in 1999, with both failing.

Earlier this month, the city of Wills Point became Van Zandt County’s first area to legalize alcohol sales when voters approved a measure for beer and wine for off-premise consumption.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Ron Carroll said he did not understand why the cities could not be autonomous on the issue.

"You could have one (city) that votes against it but if the other (areas) pass it, you’ve got it everywhere in the precinct. Why wouldn’t the cities have more rights?" he asked.

Bledsoe replied that it was "the way the election codes are written," allowing for local option elections by justice of the peace precinct as well as by city or county.

In other matters, the court took the following action:

— Adopted a proclamation declaring May as Elder Abuse Prevention Awareness Month in Van Zandt County.

— Approved entry into the court’s minutes of the annual financial report of Van Zandt County Emergency Services District No. 1.

— Approved renewal of an automobile wrecking and salvage yard license for Juan C. Garcia and Ludivina T. Rodriquez DBA Smart Choice Co.

— Appointed Kitty Wheeler to the Van Zandt County Historical Commission.

— Approved renewal of a service agreement for the Van Zandt County VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) service.

— Rescinded an earlier bid award for road and bridge department fuel to Bearcat Oil and awarded it to Duco Oil. Van Zandt County Auditor John Shinn said sales tax had not been accounted in the earlier bid award.

— Tabled a decision on awarding a bid for the sheriff’s department fuel contract.

— Authorized advertising for bids for an inmate telephone system and services at the Van Zandt County Jail. The court will notify current contract holder Securus Technologies that it will not automatically renew the contract.

— Approved a petition for Christopher and April Cook for an exception to the Van Zandt County addressing standards for property on a private road off Van Zandt County Road 2704.

— Approved a temporary amendment to the county employee holiday policy. The change, which will expire Oct. 1, will allow unused holiday time to be taken instead of the usual mandate that comp time must take precedence.

— Approved an emergency budget amendment to transfer $3,446.41 to Precinct 2 Maintenance and Repair received from Unitrin Trinity Universal Insurance Co. for damages to a 1981 International haul truck.

— Approved an emergency budget amendment to transfer $3,750 to Precinct 1 Road and Bridge Materials received from the city of Grand Saline for reimbursement for road repairs.

— Approved a payment of $1,941.82 to Oncor Electric Delivery Company for electric service to the Van Zandt County Precinct 3 Office Facility in Wills Point.

— Tabled authorization of a final payment and a retainer to J. Houser Construction on the Van Zandt County Precinct 3 Office Facility. Van Zandt County Judge Rhita Koches said she was informed some interior woodwork remains to be completed.