The town council has spoken.

It is now up to Cedar Bluff residents on whether their town will be wet or dry.

At its March 12 meeting, the Cedar Bluff Town Council unanimously passed a resolution allowing Cedar Bluff citizens the right to vote on the sale of alcohol within the town limits.

In front of a standing-room only audience, the council approved the following Resolution No. 2002-3:

“Whereas the Mayor and Town Council of Cedar Bluff wish to allow their citizens the right to vote on the issue of wet or dry within the town limits of Cedar Bluff, and whereas the Mayor and Council of the Town of Cedar Bluff unanimously agree that this is the right of the people of Cedar Bluff to vote, and whereas the Mayor and Council of the Town of Cedar Bluff will ask the local legislative delegation to introduce a bill to the House and Senate of the state of Alabama to allow the town of Cedar Bluff to have this municipal option election.”

After State Sen. Gerald Dial (D-Lineville) and State Rep. Richard Lindsey (D-Centre) introduce the bill before the legislature, upon passage, the town will hold a wet/dry referendum.

Bob Davis noted that the above resolution has proved to be the most difficult issue in his 10 years as town mayor.

“The most important thing that I’d like to stress is that this is an economic issue, not a moral one. What we are doing today is giving the citizens of Cedar Bluff the right to vote on this matter. We want them to have the opportunity to exercise their right of free speech.

“I’ve met with every preacher in Cedar Bluff to discuss this issue and asked each one if he knew of a better means to create town revenue. I would certainly support such means, but at this time, I just don’t see a better way.

“I think that the council and I have done a good job over the past 10 years in keeping town costs down. For instance, we’ve had one increase in water rates in 11 years, and we have the lowest garbage disposal rate in the county.”

City Manager Rickey Steele pointed out that the City of Guntersville, which had recently voted to go wet, had generated $792,000 in annual revenue from alcohol sales in 2001. Taking into account the size of Cedar Bluff, Steele calculated that the town stands to gain approximately $150,000 to $160,000 in annual revenue for alcohol sales. Steele also noted that Guntersville had seen no reduction in Tennessee Valley Authority funding, and that he saw no reason why Cedar Bluff would lose TVA monies.

Prior to the vote, the council heard from Cedar Bluff First Baptist Church Pastor Robert Smith, who opposed the resolution.

“Research indicates that alcohol is the most-used drug in the U.S., and that for every tax dollar generated from alcohol sales, there is $12 spent on both policing drunk driving and alcohol rehabilitation costs.

“Also, just because we’re a small town doesn’t mean that underage kids will find it more difficult to purchase alcohol. They will probably find someone above the legal age limit to buy it for them.

“Basically, there are three reasons why I oppose this resolution: Biblically, personally and economically. In regard to these reasons, I encourage the council to vote against this resolution.”

Arguing in favor of the resolution was Cedar Bluff resident Denise Cothran.

“I’ve lived in Cedar Bluff since 1995, and I agree with Mayor Davis that this is an economic issue. This town really needs growth, and I just can’t see that happening without the success of this bill. We can’t keep raising property owners’ taxes in order to pay for education. This town cannot attract business without substantial revenue. If we don’t have new industry, then parents don’t have jobs and their kids won’t be able to afford college.

“In addition, our police department is financially limited in its effort to stem the school’s drug problem, and we must accept the fact that our community does have such a problem and find ways to fund the department’s anti-drug measures.

“We need to make this change in order to grow as a community. It’s very difficult to see our tax money and industry going to Georgia. Most importantly, our high school kids won’t have much of a future after graduation if Cedar Bluff cannot grow, and right now I don’t see an acceptable amount of growth.”

In other business, Police Chief Steve Walden announced the hiring of Brent Grimes as a full-time police officer. Grimes graduated from the Jacksonville Police Academy in 2000 and has been a member of the JSU Police Department for the past two years.

“I’m very pleased to be here, and I’m looking forward to working in Cedar Bluff,” said Grimes.

The council also approved the hiring of Bradley Kisor and David Storey as reserve officers.

In other police department news, County Sheriff’s Dept. Drug Task Force Commander Joe Hester and Chief Deputy Larry Wilson donated three new pistols that were purchased with seized assets from drug arrests. Hester, Wilson and the Sheriff’s Dept also donated two trucks to be used by the police department.

The council introduced the town’s dog control ordinance, which includes a town leash law. The council then tabled the motion until the April meeting.

The council also passed Town Ordinance No. 129 and No. 130, in which the former forbids the placing of any and all political signs on town right-of-ways and the latter annex’s specific property within the town limits.

In addition, the council approved a motion to pay the full amount of the town employee insurance policies.

Before adjourning, Police Dept. Sergeant/Inspector J.P. Curry read the monthly report, which included 11 arrests for drug possession, five for possession of drug paraphernalia, five for unlawful possession of prohibited beverage, one for criminal mischief and one for theft of property, as well as 13 unspecified arrests and two theft reports.

The department also issued six traffic citations for speeding and two for driving under the influence. The department also reported six traffic accidents