UPDATE: MH City Council sends off-premise Sunday alcoholic beverage sales initiative to ballot

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Mountain Home voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballot on an initiative regarding off-premise sales of alcoholic beverages on Sundays.

The Mountain Home City Council gave its approval by at vote of 6-2 Thursday evening to a resolution asking the Baxter County Election Commission to move forward on the initiative.  The council’s approval comes after a sufficient number of petition signatures of registered city voters was approved earlier Thursday.

The council members voting in favor of the measure were Wayne Almond, Jennifer Baker, Jim Bodenhamer, Paige Evans, Bob Van Haaren and James Whalen, with Eva Frame and Don Webb casting the dissenting votes.

Original story:

The Mountain Home City Council is expected to take action Thursday evening regarding efforts to place a measure on the March 3 primary election ballot regarding off-premise sales of alcoholic beverages on Sundays.

Late word Thursday morning from Mountain Home City Clerk Brian Plumlee is a resolution is being prepared for council action after being advised a sufficient number of petition signatures of registered city voters has been secured.

KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot news learned a third batch of signatures was delivered to Plumlee Friday for validation. Supporters of the initiative believe a minimum of 622 signatures of registered voters living inside the city limits of Mountain Home is necessary for the measure to be placed on the ballot. The number is based on 15% of the ballots cast in the 2018 gubernatorial election.

The signatures are being verified by the office of Baxter County and Circuit Clerk Canda Reese, the custodian of the county’s voting records. From the three batches of petitions, Reese said Thursday morning her office has verified the signatures of 636 Mountain Home registered voters.

Efforts have been underway for several weeks, primarily at three Mountain Home liquor stores, to collect the necessary signatures via petitions to move the measure to the election ballot.

While alcohol can be served on Sunday in local restaurants, the sale at grocery stores, gasoline stations and liquor stores is prohibited, with the exceptions being the cities of Norfork and Salesville.

The deadline for securing the signatures is Dec. 26, which is 70 days prior to the primary election, according to municipal statute.

In other council business, a resolution to continue city business under the 2019 operating and maintenance budget until one for 2020 is passed will be considered.

Two ordinances are among the agenda items. The council will consider amending a zoning ordinance from residential R-1 to commercial C-2 and a second one regarding the city’s sign ordinance.

The council will also consider adjustments to both the street and parks and recreation budgets.

The meeting will be held in the council chambers of the Mountain Home Municipal Building.

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