Ozark residents will have a chance to decide whether retail stores can sell alcohol on Sundays during the city’s general election in November.
The Ozark city clerk’s office certified 149 petition signatures of voters wanting the issue on the Nov. 6 ballot. Franklin County Clerk DeAnna Schmalz said 140 voter signatures were needed to qualify the question for the ballot.
The ballot title reads: “For [Against] the sale of alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption in Ozark,Franklin County, Arkansas, as authorized by law.”
Voters in Tontitown and Springdale in Washington County also will decide in November whether to allow off-premises liquor sales on Sundays.
“Off-premises” liquor sales are those made from businesses such as liquor stores and convenience stores where the liquor is purchased for consumption elsewhere, unlike restaurants and bars where alcohol is consumed on premises.
Altus and Wiederkehr Village in Franklin County, both near Ozark, already of-fer off-premises liquor sales on Sundays, according to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Administration Division in the Department of Finance and Administration.
Franklin County is “wet” in the portion north of the Arkansas River, Ozark Chamber of Commerce Director Linda Millsap said.
Owners of all three liquor stores in Ozark were in favor of off-premises liquor sales on Sundays, said Randy Markes, manager of M and K Liquor in Ozark. The petition organizer, Donna Ruston, owns M and K Liquor, he said.
Off-premises Sunday sales would boost tourism in Ozark, Markes said. It would create additional jobs, keep people from going elsewhere for Sunday liquor sales and allow people to buy liquor and consume it at home rather than drink in an establishment and then drive home, he said.
If the measure passes, Ruston plans to open her store at noon Sunday out of respect for churchgoers, Markes said. The law allows liquor stores to open at 10 a.m., he said.
Ozark Mayor Carol Sneath said she did not believe there would be a large impact on the city whether the liquor sales question passes or not. But people have a right tovote whether to institute the additional liquor sales, she said.
“It’s on the ballot. It’s up to the people,” she said.
Millsap said she hasn’t heard any talk about the offpremises Sunday liquor sales. The chamber doesn’t take political stands on issues, she said.
The northern portion of Franklin County that is wet is surrounded by counties or portions of counties that are dry. In addition to south Franklin County, Crawford, Madison and Johnson counties are also dry, according to Alcohol Beverage Control.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 11 on 08/31/2012