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Show On Split Vote Commissioners Approve Beer License Request Beer will be sold for the first time in many years in the Bryce Valley tri-community area of Tropic -Cannonville Henrieville as county commissioners voted 2-1 to issue a beer license to Shingletown Sandwich Shop located just north of Tropic. Although considerable public opinion has been expressed in the , three communities to Issuing the license, no one appeared to speak in opposition to the move. Petitions opposing the granting of a license signed by several citizens of the three towns had been left with the commission earlier in the day. A petition in support was submitted by one of the shop's owners, Jan Marples. Commissioners opened the portion of the regular commission meeting by reviewing a background check on the three sandwich shop owners: Marples, her sister, Suzanne Southgate and her mother, Fran Southgate. The check is a routine procedure for all applicants. Three petitions stated opposition to the granting of the license and that the communities had gone for years without the sale of alcoholic beverages- in the area.-. The document stated further that "to allow sale would be contrary to the wishes and desires of our citizens". They also said it would be "a detriment to our young people who patronize this business and see alcohol sold and consumed while they are on the premises." A letter from the town of Cannonville signed by Mayor Laurie Dea Holley and council members David Evans, Joe Thompson, Jim Clarke, and Roy Willis urged rejection of the application for a beer license by Shingletown owners. An additional document, also with several signatures, supported the sale of beer "in a controlled atmosphere . . . where all state and local laws are strictly adhered to" and the right of individuals to make that choice. Commissioner Guy Thompson voiced opposition to issuing the license because he felt the majority of residents in the area were opposed. Marples said that Thompson had publicly solicited support against issuing the license in the tri-community area and that she was aware that he had also approached the Bryce Valley PTA president to seek such support as well as Tropic Mayor Doug Ahlstrom which she said she felt was not ethical. She said she felt that they were completely within their rights since the county's ordinance provides for the sale of beer and they had complied with all conditions for making application under the ordinance. Thompson sought to abstain from voting on the issue but the applicants pressed him for his vote and when he was assured by the county attorney that he could not be sued for a no vote, he voted no. Commissioner Dell LcFevre responded to the request by stating that "legally we can't stop you; you could bring a lawsuit against us." He went on to state that he respected the people of Tropic and the other areas but recommended issuing the license "just to keep us out of court." |
