After a lengthy report from Family Dollar’s representative, a third-party company hired by Family Dollar to conduct a community survey, multiple questions raised by trustees and comments from several town residents, Meeker’s board of trustees voted down a beer and wine liquor license application for the Family Dollar store on Tuesday.
A survey conducted by Liquor Pro, a professional survey company out of Colorado Springs, generated a petition with 19 signatures in opposition and 73 in favor of the license. Informal surveys submitted by resident Dora Dunton and Ol’ Crows proprietor Joe Sullivan collected 83 signatures in opposition. The Town of Meeker received 17 letters and one email from local residents and businesses in opposition.
According to statute, trustees were tasked with approving or denying the application based on the needs and desires of the citizens of Meeker. Trustee Wendy Gutierrez commented, “I’ve never seen this many people opposing any liquor license in town or this many people feeling as strongly as they do.”
The board did approve a special event liquor license for the Lions Club to serve alcohol at the soil and water conservation districts’ annual meeting in February and approved a conditional use permit for a home occupation on Sage Ridge Road where Rebekah and Justin Grant are operating a fitness and personal training facility. “It’s not a new business, but it brings them into compliance,” said Town Planner Carly Thomson.
There will be an election for the town board this spring, according to Town Clerk Lisa Cook. There are three open seats on the board and Mayor Kent Borchard has opted not to run again. Mayor Pro Tem Travis Day will run unopposed for the mayor’s seat, and six new candidates are running for the open board seats. Cook said the number of petitions picked up (12) and returned (7) shows an unusual amount of interest in a local election.
The Herald will have more information about those candidates in the weeks before the election. Mail ballots are expected to go out in early March to residents who live within town limits.
By NIKI TURNER | [email protected]
