Cities to consider rules on alcohol

 Two months after Donley County voters approved the sale of alcoholic beverages, local businesses are still waiting for city governments to take action on the subject.

Voters authorized the sale of all alcoholic beverages, including mixed drinks, on November 5, but the cities of Clarendon and Hedley have not yet adopted rules governing such sales. That may change soon, however.

Clarendon officials will meet with representatives of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission on Friday afternoon, January 10, at 3:00 to discuss what the city can do and what other cities have done.

City Hall says no action will be taken at Friday’s meeting, but the item is scheduled to be on the agenda for the regular board meeting next Tuesday, January 14, at 7 p.m., and action may or may not be taken at that time.

Four establishments in Clarendon – Lowe’s Family Center, Allsup’s, and both CEFCO convenience stores – have already published legal notices of their intent to apply for alcohol permits, but those applications have not gone forward, pending action by the board of aldermen.

The Hedley Board of Aldermen is also planning to meet this Thursday, January 9, and the governance of alcohol sales in that city is on the agenda but for discussion only.

Alcohol sales in the City of Howardwick were already legal prior to the November election.