City Council sets rules for alcohol sales

On most nights, cutoff is midnight

Now that Wake Village has become the sixth Bowie County-based city in three years to go wet, its City Council set rules Monday for future beer and wine sales.

Council members approved a municipal ordinance that basically mirrors the state’s codes when it comes to alcohol sales regulation. Wake Village residents approved alcohol sales last month in a citywide vote.

“This has been a hot topic for about the last 30 days,” Wake Village Mayor Jim Roberts said. “We met several times with our legal advisor about this. We are doing the most we can do (with alcoholic beverage regulations) and still keep within the state’s laws.”

The ordinance sets retail beer and wine sales hours between 7 a.m. and midnight every day except Sunday. On Sunday, alcohol sales are allowed between midnight and 2 a.m.

The ordinance also requires beer and wine merchants to have a permit or license to sell alcoholic beverages as authorized by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

Beer and wine merchants will also be prohibited from selling those beverages in any and all municipally zoned residential areas. Sales outlets must also be at least 300 feet away from any and all churches, public and private schools, and hospitals.

At this time, three local businesses inside the city are seeking to sell beer and wine.

In other business, council members re-appointed Council Member Sheryl Collum to the city’s mayor pro-tem position.

Council members further approved continuing an agreement permitting the Texas Municipal League to furnish insurance for city employees and their dependents.