|
Sylva voters pass liquor by the drink
By Derek Hodges
Sylva voters gave the green light to sales of liquor by-the-drink during Tuesday’s (May 2) primary.
The contentious issue – which failed twice before, most recently in 2001 when it was defeated 224 to 220 – passed with 257 votes for and 182 against.
The referendum will allow sales of mixed alcoholic beverages in restaurants, hotels and other such establishments inside town limits.
The issue drew surprisingly little discussion, with only one Sylva Herald letter-writer commenting on the vote. In past referendums, churches and other groups worked to get voters to the polls to defeat the issue.
Some business owners have said the option could bring in more national chain restaurants. Such competition could drive local establishments out of business, they said. Sylva town Manager Jay Denton said several people expressed such concerns to him.
“I have talked to some restaurant owners who are concerned about chain restaurants having an unfair advantage over them,” Denton said in October. “They have a much larger advertising budget, and could take clients away from local establishments. These are legitimate concerns.”
Sylva Town Board members voted unanimously Feb. 2 to put the issue on the ballot at the suggestion of board member Danny Allen.
“Mixed drinks will bring more revenue into the town,” Allen said at the time. “It will also help keep taxes from being raised.”
Though there were only three months in between the Sylva board decision and the primary, officials pushed forward with the matter to avoid a special election. Holding a separate vote on mixed-drink sales would have cost the town between $3,500 and $4,000, Denton said.
Business owners who want to sell mixed beverages will be required to go through a permitting process and receive licenses, a process officials estimate will take three to six months.
|
