Liquor referendums pass in Adamsville, Alamo

JACKSON, Tenn. — Many different things were voted on over the past few weeks around West Tennessee.

President, representatives, mayors, council members, alderman, and many more titles were elected Tuesday in West Tennessee and around the country.

However, in Alamo and Adamsville, there was a different item on the ballot.

“Well it was liquor by the drink, essentially. That’s what the referendum was,” said Alamo Mayor John Emison.

And Adamsville had the same referendum, as well as one to approve or deny packaged liquor to be sold in stores.

“This was not led by the City itself,” Adamsville Mayor David Leckner said. “This was done by individuals to get the ballot measure in place.”

Both of Adamsville’s referendums passed by over 55%, and Alamo’s passed by over 60%.

Mayor Emison in Alamo says that this will be beneficial to the town because of the money it can potentially bring in.

“Revenue certainly. I think this will help with our promotional activities and business development in Alamo,” Mayor Emison said.

In Adamsville, Mayor Leckner gave an example of how much revenue this vote may actually bring in for them.

“I would say, within its first full year of running with any store or restaurant combined, that will be the equation of a 10 cent property tax increase,” Mayor Leckner said. “I would say the revenue alone, for one year and this is just me talking, I think it would at least be a 10 cent property tax increase equivalent.”

And that is exactly what Mayor Leckner told the city before the vote. One of the local papers asked him his thoughts. He said that this is a time that the citizens of Adamsville can be selfish and vote to keep their property taxes low.

This does not mean you can go to a store or restaurant in these towns today and buy a drink. The cities will need to re-write some codes, and businesses will need to get licenses.

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