KEMP– Kemp City Council met July 11 and discussed holding a special election in November for a proposition allowing alcoholic and mixed beverages to be sold at restaurants within the city.
Local business owner and city councilman Rick Needham spearheaded a petition to allow alcohol sales in restaurants, and the petition gained enough signatures to allow for a local option proposition election to be held.
According to Mayor Christi Neal, the city has been passed up as a location for new eateries due to current city law. “We can’t serve beer or wine on premises at any restaurants, and this election would vote to do that,” she said. “We’ve missed some opportunities because of this. Restaurants can’t serve it, so we have missed out on some restaurants because of this.”
“We’ve just got to look at the big picture - the whole big picture of bringing new people into this town,” said Councilman Greg Capehart.
Council members voted to hold the November 7 election with Needham abstaining.
Also at the meeting, council members discussed appointing Kellie Gunnels and Hillary Sullivan to the city’s planning and zoning board. Mayor Neal told the council and audience that she wished to be transparent and let everyone know that Sullivan was her daughter and ensured there would never be a conflict of interest. In the event of a tie among council votes on a planning and zoning issue, Mayor Neal would abstain from being the tie-breaker. Council members approved the appointment.
In other business, council members:
• Approved minutes of the May 9 meeting.
• Approved rezoning property at 703 ½ N. Elm from multi-family to single-family.
• Approved replatting lots 121 and 127 on Island View Drive.