Hartley County commissioners approve alcohol election in November

HARTLEY COUNTY, Texas (KFDA) - The Hartley County Commissioners’ Court approved at their last meeting to host an election that would allow the wider range of alcohol sales in the county.

“To get that on the ballot, they were required to submit a petition to us with signatures of Hartley County registered residents, 35% of the registered voters that voted in the last gubernatorial election and that was around 550 maybe. They presented us with 575 signatures,” said Hartley County Judge Ronnie Gordon.

Restaurants in Hartley County are currently able to sell alcohol, but customers have to pay for a membership to drink in the establishment.

“We do have to go through a process to maintain the memberships and keep record of them. It’s more of a process explaining to guests, especially travelers, who see the alcohol but don’t understand why they would have to further purchase a membership to consume the alcohol,” said Melisa Young, general manager at XIT Woodfire Grill.

With this election, it will allow alcoholic beverages and mixed drinks to be served all throughout Hartley County.

“Now that they have the ability to change the law, which I don’t know that we did in the past so much through a voting process, we’re putting it in the locals hands to say, ‘Hey, we don’t want this anymore and we’re going to not have to do it,’” said Young.

The issue will be placed on the November ballot where all registered voters will be able to vote on the county becoming a completely wet county or not.