De QUEEN, Ark. - Voters have decided Sevier County Arkansas will be a wet county.
Residents went to the polls and cast 3,499 votes, or 67.3%, for allowing alcohol sales in the county for the first time since 1946. There were 1,699 votes, or 32%, against.
"We want to send a big thank you to the voters of Sevier County for making an investment in our community," a post on the Vote for Growth Facebook post said Tuesday after the votes were in. "We created the opportunity, but you the voters ultimately made the decision. After 74 years of losing revenue to surrounding counties and states, from the sale of alcohol, you have realized a need that we believe will help this county grow."
The group Vote for Growth, comprised of about 30 business owners in Sevier County, circulated a petition with hopes of promoting economic development. Business owners were concerned that tax dollars that could be spent in Sevier County were going to neighboring Little River County in Southwest Arkansas and McCurtain County in Southeast Oklahoma.
Sevier County restaurants will now be able to apply for licenses to serve alcohol and three liquor stores will be allowed to open in the county. In Arkansas, the population of an area determines the number of liquor stores allowed in each county.
"We just want to thank all of the business owners who helped support the effort," said Vote for Growth Member Monica Pearce.
The group started gathering signatures for the petition at the beginning of the year. But when COVID-19 hit, the group thought that might be it for them, Pearce said.
But they went ahead collecting signatures with drive-through events. "And the majority of the people came to us and that told us a lot," Pearce said.
Sevier County restaurants will be able to apply for licenses to serve alcohol and three liquor stores will be allowed to open in the county. In Arkansas, the population of an area determines the number of liquor stores allowed in each county.