Top News
Nearly 700 signatures collected asking for wet/dry vote in Good Hope
GOOD HOPE — Hanceville may have been only the first domino to fall in responding to legislation that frees Alabama municipalities with 1,000 or more residents to vote on the sale of alcohol. If petitioners in Good Hope have their wish, Cullman’s smaller neighbor to the south could be next.
Good Hope resident Alan Hauck presented the city council a lengthy list of signatures at its February meeting, petitioning the city to hold its own wet/dry vote.
According to state law, if the petition meets certification requirements, the city must hold an election in response to the wishes of the signees. City attorney Rita Nicholas delivered the petition to the Cullman County probate judge’s office Tuesday, where each signature must be verified.
The submitted petition had close to 700 signatures, according to Good Hope Mayor Corey Harbison. Only a fraction of that number is likely to fulfill certification requirements, though.
Only signatures from residents of Good Hope who were qualified to vote in the last general election are considered valid, said Nicholas, adding that weeding through all of the signatures will take time. Thirty percent of qualifying voters must have signed the petition in order for an election to proceed. An official tally of valid signees had not been reached late Tuesday.
Harbison said the city would have to hold an election if the petition meets requirements set by state law. But, he said, don’t expect to see the council call for a special election to decide the issue.
“If the people who’ve presented the petition have the required signatures, then we will have to put it on the ballot,” said Harbison. “But we aren’t gonna be calling any special elections; there will be no need in that. It would just be put on the ballot in the regular election.”
The next regular election will be held in June, though it is too early to determine whether the wet/dry issue will come before Good Hope by then.
If the referendum does make it onto the ballot, Harbison said the city would be obligated to address some concerns ahead of a wet/dry vote, but was quick to add that addressing the possibility of the city going wet should not be taken as an endorsement of either side of the wet/dry issue.
Rather, he said, it’s just good sense.
“Without an enforceable ordinance already in place, it could get chaotic pretty quick,” he said. “If it comes before the people, you can be sure that we will take steps to protect the town of Good Hope and its citizens and, as much as we can, the citizens of the surrounding community. You don’t want to be required to vote on something that could change your town, and then not be active in anticipating how to shape those possible changes with as much strict ordinance control as possible.”
“Most important,” he added, “we just want to do what the law requires of us, and nothing else, to move on this.”
Benjamin Bullard can be reached by e-mail at bbullard@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.
- Top News
-
-
Hanceville awash with sewer problems
Water is a big deal in Cullman County. It’s a big deal in the humid, rainy South.
-
‘Worst case scenario’
Major cuts could be in store for Cullman County schools this year, depending on how the state education budget shakes out once it is eventually passed.
-
Brent Terry seeking school board seat
Hanceville resident Brent Terry, 39, has announced plans to run for Cullman County Board of Education Place 4.
-
Hank Allen to seek second term as CCBOE superintendent
Cullman County Board of Education Superintendent Hank Allen has announced he will seek re-election in the upcoming June primary.
-
Another round
After watching Hanceville go through an arduous and sometimes painful wet/dry referendum process, Cullman’s neighbor to the south is about to have its turn.
-
Red Cross fundraiser begins
The Cullman County Red Cross is raising money to help fire and disaster victims in Cullman Winston counties.
-
Key Club fundraiser to benefit Children's Hospital
Auctions are addictive. Most people who go to one are hooked forever.
-
Last call
-
On the clock
The clock is ticking for Hanceville to respond to a compliance order issued by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) threatening stiff penalties if the city’s sewer plant does not begin treating wastewater at a rate deemed acceptable by the regulatory agency.
-
Fire Dept. to build new station
The Baileyton Volunteer Fire Department recently purchased land from the town in order to build a new fire station
- More Top News Headlines
-
Hanceville awash with sewer problems
