Nathan Straus
Jacksonville Progress
JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville approved an interlocal agreement between the city and Cherokee County to conduct a local option liquor election on May 8.
Jacksonville Mayor Dr. Robert Haberle said Jacksonville’s role in the election could cost upwards of $4,000. It happened during the regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening.
“The majority of the expenses I would guess would be programming the voting machine,” Haberle said.
Approved to go to the ballot during a Cherokee County Commissioners’ Court meeting earlier in the year, the alcohol election would place two items on the May 8 ballot. One would be for the sale of beer and wine for off-premises consumption while the other would allow the sale of mixed drinks without a private club membership.
In addition, councilmembers also approved Dona Ralston as an election judge for the general city election.
Regardless of whether alcohol is legalized for sale in Jacksonville, restaurant-goers to El Lindo Mexico may now purchase alcoholic beverages. Councilmembers approved a zone change request to permit the service of alcohol in the restaurant on South Jackson Street.
A request for a variance on Lake Jacksonville to allow a private property to be rented out at 2403 and 2404 Moore lane, however, was unanimously denied.
The annual city audit was approved during the meeting. Councilmember Kenneth Melvin said he believed the audit is a good report.
Haberle said the city has made a good accounting of itself.
“I think Jacksonville has weathered the storm as well as anyone and better than a lot,” he said.
In addition, a finance committee was approved to be set up. It will be comprised of City Manager Mo Raissi, Finance Director Freddy Thomas and two councilmembers to be selected at a later time.
Jacksonville approved a resolution certifying urgent need conditions for funding through the Texas Department of Rural Affairs and Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Haberle said this is for the second round of funding for Hurricane Ike Disaster Recovery.
A group of seven bids for water system supplies were approved, as was an amendment to the sick leave bank policy which put a limit of 8,000 hours on the collective donations to the sick leave bank.
Mayor Haberle offered a recommendation to appoint Debbie Kerzee to the Keep Jacksonville Beautiful Committee. This followed inaction on this appointment during last month’s council meeting when no name was put forth.
Though an executive session concerning the city’s contractual obligations was held prior to the meeting, no action was taken on it.
