<< Back 5/29/02 Canton group wants on-premise alcohol sales By Scott McLeod The clock started ticking May 20 on those trying to win approval for the sale of on-premise alcohol in Canton. The group has 90 days from May 20 to get 35 percent of the Haywood County municipality’s 2,856 registered voters to sign a petition asking that a vote be held on the issue. If everything falls into place, a referendum could be held as early as October, said Marty Phillips, the Canton resident who is heading up the committee trying to move the issue forward. “We’re trying to frame this as a business issue,” said Phillips. “We want people to be well informed of what we are trying to achieve.” What the group wants people to know is that it is not trying to bring nightclubs to the east Haywood County town. Franchises and many private restaurants, however, depend on alcohol sales to achieve a necessary profit margin, said Phillips. Canton Mayor Pat Smathers said he knows of at least two chain restaurants that have inquired about locating in Canton but backed out early upon discovering that the town did not allow on-premise sales of alcohol. “We’re sitting here at this major intersection off of Interstate 40, and all around us — Asheville, Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Sylva, Brevard, Bryson City — all have on-premise alcohol sales of some kind,” said Smathers. “We’re sitting right in the middle and we don’t have it. It does not make sense from a business and economic standpoint.” Smathers pointed out that the town would benefit from the additional sales taxes from the restaurants, but he also noted that these businesses needed employees, that their employees would buy gas, groceries and other items. Smathers said the town is not going to take an official position, but that he personally supports on-premise sales in “class A restaurants, hotels and motels.” The petition being circulated by the committee allows voters to express support for a referendum that would allow only beer and wine or one that would also allow liquor by the drink. If the group gets the 1,000 needed signatures within 90 days, Phillips hopes to vote on the issue before the general election in November. The board of elections would have 30 days to verify signatures after the petitions were turned in. Phillips said he is glad the state requires a separate referendum on the issue because he wants voters to be able to come to the polls and make a decision on just this one issue. “Probably most people who will vote on this have already formed their opinion,” he said. Haywood County Board of Elections Supervisor Catherine Bradshaw says it is unlikely a referendum could be held before the general election, particularly since the date for this year’s primary election still has not been set. A judge in Johnston County is expected to rule this week on whether the new legislative districts developed by the General Assembly under court order are valid. When that occurs, the entire state will have to hold primary elections and general elections by Nov. 5. “That would be close,” said Bradshaw of holding a referendum before the general election. “I’m thinking more along the first of the year.” However, she said one factor will be how soon Phillips and his group could get their petition in to the board of elections office. After the petition is turned in and the signatures checked, Bradshaw can set the referendum for no sooner than 60 days and no later than 120 days. If Phillips gets the required signatures within 30 to 60 days, then the possibility of a referendum before the general election and the primary becomes more likely, said Bradshaw.