Cleveland City Administrator Kevin Harris
(Cleveland)- City residents in Cleveland could get the opportunity to vote on allowing the sales of packaged sales of distilled spirits. During last night’s city council meeting City Administrator Kevin Harris cited the passage of Senate Bill 145 by the state house and senate and signed by Governor Kemp that gives local elected officials the authority to authorize package sales of liquor.
Harris said prior to taking any type of vote the city will hold two public hearings on the issue. The first will be next Monday during the regular council meeting and the other a called meeting and public hearing to be held on July 25th. Cleveland Mayor Josh Turner said they want to hear from the citizens before they move forward.
“ The council wanted the opportunity to hear from the citizens directly and have a forum where they offer their comments and their opinions on that and the council can either vote or not vote to put it to a referendum for the public to decide,” said Turner.
The issue is expected to have some opposition, White County Commissioner and city resident Terry Goodger expressed his opposition when the issue was presented to the council back in February by former business owner Ed Ward.
Mayor Turner said they have an August 10th deadline to take action before the issue could be placed on the November 8th general election ballot.
