Non-resident voters allowed to sign Wartrace liquor sales petition

Those who own property in Wartrace but don't live within the city limits will now have some say-so on the liquor by the drink issue.

Joe Peters, owner of the Walking Horse Hotel, recently asked the Wartrace Board of Mayor and Aldermen to petition the state for a special exception that would allow him to sell liquor by the drink at the hotel. Wartrace currently permits "brown-bagging," where customers bring their own alcohol to the venue.

After some discussion, the board agreed last month to survey citizens of Wartrace who are registered voters. If they agreed with the idea of asking for the special exception, they could sign a list at Wartrace City Hall.

Some residents of the area objected to the requirements.

Phillips Smith, who lives in Wartrace, was one of them. In an earlier interview, he said his father, who owns property in Wartrace but lives outside city limits, signed the petition, but was told later his signature didn't count.

"My dad gets one legal vote since he has property in the city, so he can vote in a Wartrace election legally," said Smith at the time. "What happens in city limits affects them, too. Either pro or against, it does affect them and even if they're for or against it, they should have a say."

Several posts on the T-G website story agreed and at the meeting held Tuesday night, Alderman Ed Simpson proposed an amendment to the original resolution that authorized the survey.

"I move that property rights registered voters to be allowed to sign the petition," Simpson stated.

The motion passed unanimously, according to town recorder Laura Gentry.

The meeting took place a week after it was originally scheduled and the new date was not published as usual. The first date, Oct. 13, was cancelled when there were two deaths among the friends and family of the board members. Because the meeting was to include a two-hour training session with state officials, coordinating a second date was tricky, said Mayor Don Gallagher. When the date was settled, Gentry was not in the office that day and the other office worker did not know to inform the public of the new date.

"It was just an oversight," said Gallagher.

The next scheduled meeting date for the Board of Mayor and Aldermen will be Nov. 10 at the town hall.

Other business

* Enhancement projects -- Gallagher advised that he had met with representatives from the Department of Transportation (DOT), South Central Tennessee Development District and the city engineer regarding the enhancement projects.

"We have just been advised that the town must obtain a license to use the state right-of-ways involved in these projects and that the license must be renewed every 10 years," the minutes stated. "The state will allow us to combine all three phases of the enhancement projects under one roof for this purpose."

To obtain the license, the town must determine when and how the state obtained ownership of the state roads involved in the projects. This is a very time-consuming process and will begin with research of deeds and other records at the state archives, the mayor said .

"Our goal is to have the request for license package ready by Jan. 3, 2010 to present at the January sub-committee meeting."

* TUB Conversion --The TUB water connnection conversion was tentatively scheduled for the third week of November.

* Fire Department Recognition --The Wartrace Volunteer Fire Department was recognized by the Shelbyville Exchange Club for their commitment and service to the community. The Volunteer Fire Depatrtment has set the date for the annual turkey shoot fundraiser for Nov. 14. Chief Jeff Phillips also told the board he was having trouble getting the volunteers to show up for training. The state requires that they have four hours of training per month to maintain their certification. He is going to make it a requirement that all volunteers must have attended training prior to driving a truck on a response.

* Park & Recreation Committee Chairman Jean Gallagher noted that the date for the Fall Chili Supper had been changed to Nov. 7 due to conflicts. Pies and cakes are needed for the supper. Donations will be appreciated.