EAST MOUNTAIN 性视界传媒 If a petition succeeds and voters give their approval, beer and wine could be sold in East Mountain in the future, turning the last Upshur County community from dry to partially wet.
East Mountain voters on May 3 also will elect three City Council members, and the three incumbents said they will run for re-election.
The East Mountain council on Monday voted to allow a signature-gathering process calling for a local option liquor election.
The request for the process to begin was brought by manager of the town性视界传媒檚 Family Dollar.
Now that the council has voted to let the process move forward, it性视界传媒檒l be up to the petitioners to gather enough signatures for the measure to be put on the ballot. If enough signatures are received and verified, the council will vote to allow residents to decide its fate.
If voters allow the sale of alcohol, Family Dollar would be the first establishment in the small town to sell beer and wine but not other types of liquor. Beer and wine would have to be consumed off the store性视界传媒檚 premises, as well.
Mayor Marc Covington said about 80 registered voters who are residents of East Mountain would have to sign the petition for the issue to be placed on the ballot. That figure equates to 10% of the people who voted during the last municipal election, which took place in 2024.
Councilman Richard Lattier asked how many council members were in favor of allowing beer and wine to be sold in the city limits. No members voiced opposition.
性视界传媒淭hey性视界传媒檙e gonna get it somewhere,性视界传媒 Councilman Eugene Brown said. 性视界传媒淲e might as well get the revenue off of it by letting them buy it here rather than Longview or Gilmer.性视界传媒
The council Monday also voted unanimously to pass a resolution calling for an election for three seats. All council positions are at-large, meaning any eligible officeholder who is a resident of the city can run.
The three seats on the ballot are occupied by Brown, Lattier and Danny Medlin. All three said they intend to run again.
Election Day voting is set 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 3.
Early voting will take place at city hall, 103 Municipal Drive. Days and times are April 12-24 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; April 25 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; and April 28-29 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
