BENTONVILLE — Benton County’s justices of the peace bowed to the requirements of state law Thursday and agreed to place Springdale’s Sunday liquor sales vote on the Nov. 6 ballot.
At A Glance
Court Action
Benton County’s Quorum Court met Thursday and approved:
• Allowing electronic transfers of payments, to comply with a recommendation from state auditors.
• Creating an appeals process for the nuisance cleanup ordinance.
• Spending $5,900 to buy a DNA drying cabinet for the county coroner.
• Spending $30,000 for the Arkansas Visitation and Exchange Center.
• Spending $200,000 to replace air conditioning at the County Administration Building.
Source: Staff Report
Springdale voters will make a decision on whether to allow Sunday “off-premise” liquor sales after petitions requesting the issue be placed on the ballot were certified by the city clerk. The proposal would allow any business with an off-premise permit to sell alcohol.
Businesses with that type of permit include liquor, convenience and grocery stores. According to information from Denise Pearce, Springdale city clerk, her office certified 1,558 signatures on petitions turned in between Aug. 6 and 15. Pearce certified the signatures Aug. 16. That certification was forwarded to Benton County where it was received Aug. 17 by the Benton County Clerk’s Office.
The question was brought to the Quorum Court on Sept. 11. Several justices of the peace questioned having a vote on Sunday liquor sales when Benton County is still a dry county. A separate measure to change the county’s status from “dry” to a “wet” county where liquor sales are permitted has also been placed on the Nov. 6 ballot as a result of a petition drive.
Patrick Carr, justice of the peace, introduced the resolution to permit the vote at Thursday’s meeting, noting, “We really don’t have much choice.” It passed unanimously.
The justices of the peace unanimously approved the other six items on the Quorum Court’s agenda as well, with little or no discussion. Most of the 30-minute meeting was spent arranging the Quorum Court’s schedule for its November and December meetings, which were rescheduled because of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The Quorum Court will meet at 6 p.m. Nov. 27 and Dec. 20.