Robbinsville – After the county said, “No,” the town said, “Yes.”
The town voted 2-0 to place alcohol sales on the November 2021 ballot at the July 1 Robbinsville Board of Aldermen meeting, bringing the Prosperity Committee – the group behind the push for the sale of malt beverages and unfortified wine in Graham County, the only remaining dry county in North Carolina – one step closer to its goal.
The two aldermen present for the teleconference – Brian Johnson and Debbie Beasley – both cited their responsibility as elected officials for the reason behind the decision.
“The citizens that live inside the city limits have that right – as everybody, everywhere else – to vote on the issue,” Johnson said. “It’s the people’s decision, not just the board’s. That’s the way I look at it.”
“We’ve sat meeting after meeting and hours of people talking, sharing things with us and trying to tell us this way or that way. I appreciate the efforts and heartfelt discussion from both sides,” Beasley said. “I do respect every preacher that has came before us, with the utmost respect. I care about our county and I care about our little town of only 400 voters.
“No matter what the outcome is, I believe our county will remain strong in what really matters: lending a helping hand, reaching out and still trusting God to help us through everything. I feel like the citizens have voted me in; they have trusted me to take care of the business of the town of Robbinsville. I have to respect them, too.”
“About 244 years ago this week, our Founding Fathers came up with a pretty radical idea for our country,” said attorney Brady Cody, speaking on behalf of the Prosperity Committee. “It should be governed by the people. This is the perfect time to remember that.
“We are a nation with a lot of different viewpoints, debates and beliefs. Our society right now shows that. The core of the American way is one principle: the ballot box is what keeps us moving forward.”
The Graham County Board of Commissioners unanimously struck down the measure on May 19, which the Rev. Patrick O’Dell pointed out when discussing his opposition.
“Alcohol is not a town issue, it’s a county issue,” O’Dell said. “It is going to cause problems. There’s nothing good about alcohol. It’s already been to the commissioners, and they turned it down. I don’t feel like you need this on you.
“The only just and fair conclusion for this prosperity group – the ones that continue to push the alcohol issue – is for them to get out and do the footwork. Get the signatures on a petition at the county level, or to go through the due process of time, find new commissioners and vote them in.”
The Rev. Jimmy Millsaps recalled the game of “hot potato” the alcohol debate has played since the winter, as county and town meetings – before COVID-19 protocols proctored a change – were both highly attended and vigorously debated.
The town tabled the issue at its February meeting to give the county an opportunity to decide on the vote.
“We’ve been here before,” Millsaps said. “If alcohol is more available, there will be more consumption. If there is more consumption, there will be more problems.
“When some people drink, they do things they would not normally do if they were sober. This is a loophole to get it into the county through the Town of Robbinsville.”
Graham County officially went dry in 1948.
Mold update
The town is also taking the necessary steps to help curb the mold issue that has almost consumed Robbinsville City Hall.
Mayor Steve Hooper provided the latest updates on the plaguing topic, mapping out a plan that will make the building safe for both the public and town employees.
Hooper opened a bid for what was believed to be the initial step, which is roof repairs. Hayesville’s Cox & Son Roofing submitted the lone quote, which will cost $2,354. That rate will include the installation of 6-inch gutters and downspouts, new siding and flashing on the front of the building and debris cleanup.
“We definitely need to get this mold issue corrected,” Hooper said.
“And it starts with the roof,” Johnson quickly added.
The chimney on the back of the structure will also need to be removed to ensure a proper seal on the exterior wall.
However, Beasley added that the mold inside the facility is seriously affecting the health and safety of anyone who enters the building.
Thus, o2Wizard.com will soon set up a machine at City Hall – over a weekend – at a cost of $1,900 to remove the mold. The company will bring the machine back at a later date for a $99 removal, once other steps have been taken.
“Nineteen-hundred dollars to remove the mold is better than $2,000 to put gutters up and still have the mold,” Beasley said.