April 08, 2008 11:37 pm
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By Derek Spellman
dspellman@joplinglobe.com
NEOSHO, Mo. — Neosho voters on Tuesday narrowly approved an amendment to the city charter allowing the City Council to determine the total number of liquor licenses available in the city, according to complete but unofficial results from the Newton County clerk’s office.
A total of 553 people voted in favor of the amendment, compared with 517 against. The measure required a simple majority to pass.
Before Tuesday’s vote, the total number of liquor licenses available in Neosho was based on the city’s population. That number could be changed only by a majority of voters in an election. Now, the City Council will have the authority to set the total number of available licenses by ordinance.
Max Forste, owner of Neosho Computer & Electronics, said he voted against the amendment because he thinks that kind of power should reside with voters.
“I think it has worked fine so far,” he said. “I would just hate to put too much power in the hands of the city (council).”
Michael Crowe, who works for the city Public Works and Parks and Recreation departments, said he voted in favor of the measure.
Crowe said he did not necessarily want to see a lot more liquor stores opening up, but he saw the amendment as a matter of fairness. It is not fair, he said, that a legitimate business has no opportunity to apply for a license just because there are only a few to go around.
“I think it is an equal opportunity issue,” Crowe said.
Voters on Tuesday also approved a set of 14 other amendments to the city charter, and decided races for school board and council seats.
Voters supported the other proposed charter amendments by a margin of 711 votes in favor and 330 against. Those changes include eliminating the position of city treasurer and making ordinances effective immediately after their approval, unless another date is specified.
In the race for three seats on the Neosho R-5 School Board, two incumbents won re-election.
Current board members Cindy Norman and Cheryl Hawkins captured 917 and 797 votes, respectively, in Newton and McDonald counties. Lynn Otey won a seat on the school board with 832 votes.
Incumbent Richard Davidson finished fourth with 738 votes, followed by Earl Reynolds with 720 and Jarrett “J.C.” Herrell with 280.
In the race for Neosho City Council, incumbent Matt Persinger won re-election with 652 votes. Challenger Heather Bowers got 251 votes as a write-in candidate.
Countywide voter turnout was 10.5 percent, according to the Newton County clerk’s office.
The old way
Before Tuesday’s vote in Neosho, the total number of liquor licenses available in the city was based on population. The charter allowed one license for every 2,500 people. Neosho’s population was 10,500, according to the 2000 census.
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