By By Leada DeVaney, Hartselle Enquirer
It squeaked by with a narrow margin, but it appears Hartselle citizens will have the chance in November to decide if they want liquor sales in the city.
City Clerk Rita Lee said the petitions calling for a wet/dry vote were certified last week and organizers have enough signatures to call for a referendum
She said of the more than 1,300 signatures, 813 were verified as being Hartselle voters. Organizers needed 798 signatures to bring the issue to a vote.
"There were numerous instances where people signed the petition twice or did not live in Hartselle," Lee said. Those signatures were thrown out.
The matter now goes to the Hartselle City Council. Council members will be deciding on whether to put the matter to a vote, a move most have said they are in favor of even if they oppose liquor sales.
Once approved by the council, the wet/dry referendum will be held at the same time as the Nov. 5 general election, the same time as when voters will be deciding on governor and a slate of other state and county offices.
If the wet/dry referendum passes, Mayor Clif Knight said he is researching the municipal ordinances of neighboring cities in order to have controlling laws ready, a move supported by the Hartselle Ministerial Association.
The laws limit how alcohol is sold in a city, and include things such as whether beer and wine only are allowed, or if all liquor sales are allowed.