Town encourages public to speak with county
Robbinsville – For the second straight month, the town had the decision whether to vote on allowing constituents to decide if Graham County would sell alcohol once again or not.
For the second straight month, the aldermen elected to table the issue. This time, until April.
The Feb. 5 meeting – held at the Graham County Public Library due to a heavy turnout of nearly 150 attendees – was much more civil and shorter than the original meeting on the topic in January, due to the fact that there was no public comment before the decision was made.
Still, three people spoke in opposition to the alcohol sales – Jimmy Millsaps, Daniel Stewart and Bo Collins – with the first two relying heavily on faith-based arguments, recounting personal experiences with alcohol and dispelling rumors of threats made by those opposed.
“This is an issue that affects the whole county,” Millsaps said. “We love the county and the people. I can say that we’re not your enemies; we’re your friends. And we’re going to remain your friends. We’re going to try to do what’s right.
“I know everybody doesn’t agree with my position, and I don’t expect you to. This is America, and we have a right to believe what we want to and have our convictions. It’s a personal conviction, in that regard.
“We’ve seen the affect of it; we’ve dealt with it firsthand. I’ve had to notify families that people were dead. I’ve buried some of my closest friends and the reason – 100 percent – was alcohol.”
“I’ve lived here all my life and by the grace and mercy of God, I hope to be buried here,” Stewart added. “We could be here all day, hashing out the pros and cons. Here we are, gathered up and putting this monkey in your lap and that’s not fair. I don’t want to offend anyone or make anyone mad, but I could be here until dark, telling you what alcohol has done to my family.
“I want to set something straight. A lot has been said in the county and in the newspaper. A lady told me after the last meeting, ‘Daniel, there have been four preachers threaten to burn anybody out that’s for it.’ All of these preachers live here. We’re not that kind of people. I’m for prosperity, and I’m for change.”
“Look at the Super Bowl. There’s no telling what the alcohol companies pay for one commercial,” Collins said. “There’s money in it, no doubt. But most of the people that are pushing for it are not willing to make the investment to run a business here in this county.
“A lot of the things they’re saying it’s going to bring it’s not going to bring.”
The only person that spoke on behalf of the Prosperity Committee – the group pushing for alcohol sales to be put on the November ballot for a vote by the public – was attorney Brady Cody, who thanked the Robbinsville Board of Aldermen for hearing and absorbing all of the public feedback concerning the debate.
“Since the last meeting, there has been significant discussion throughout the town and the community about the issue,” Cody pointed out. “Whatever you think about the vote – for or against it – people are taking advantage of the opportunity to vote.
“We ask that the town – on behalf of its citizens and businesses – place the issue of selling alcohol within the town limits on the November 2020 ballot.”
Alderman Brian Johnson then made a motion for the board to table the town’s vote on the issue until April – which passed unanimously – and also encouraged those in attendance to speak with the Graham County Board of Commissioners about putting the vote on a future county agenda.
“As a town alderman, I have a responsibility to the citizens to the Town of Robbinsville. The issue – vote or no vote – is controversial either way,” Johnson said. “I also noticed the crowd at the last meeting; most of the people in attendance did not live within the Town of Robbinsville limits.
“I urge both groups – and all citizens of Graham County – to seek out their county commissioners on this matter for a count-wide vote.”
Other news and notes from the meeting included:
* The new maintenance truck – which was approved for purchase on Sept. 4 – was discussed. Johnson admitted that when the truck was ordered from Chevrolet, the board was unaware that Chevrolet was on strike. Now that Chevrolet is back at work, the company is backlogged and assured the town that the truck would be delivered by March 1. However, the board agreed to cancel the purchase to Chevrolet and re-assess how to proceed moving forward.
* Sonya Webster gave the financial update. During the presentation, Webster informed the board that the two missing credit card statements being requested by Alderman Shaun Adams – who has been conducting an investigation based on state auditors’ findings of the previous administration – were for cards under the Graham County Travel & Tourism Board.
Adams wondered aloud how those cards – now discontinued – were switched to Travel & Tourism, since they were issued well before the Travel & Tourism Board was formed. Webster added that the request would cost the town $405 and the board agreed to ask Graham County Travel & Tourism to request the statements.
Furthermore, the board agreed to charge Mayor Steve Hooper’s 2019 personal-use mileage for his town vehicle at a commuting-rule rate – $220.50. The motion passed 2-1, as Adams opposed and wanted to charge at a lease rate – $896.
Adams continued to contend that Hooper is seemingly the only mayor in the state that gets a vehicle.
* The board voted unanimously to donate $3,000 to the Smoky Mountain Senior Games and $140 to Robbinsville Cheerleading to help buy one of the team’s members buy a state football championship ring.
* After coming out of closed session, Alderman Debbie Beasley made a motion to hire Bailey Hall for the mMaintenance worker 1 position. The motion passed unanimously. Hall will begin his 90-day probationary period at a rate of $10 per hour.