Oak Ridge voters narrowly nix alcohol-sales proposal

By a narrow margin, voters in Oak Ridge apparently have rejected a proposal to allow a local business to sell single-serving alcoholic drinks with its meals.

A total of 53 votes were cast, with 25 in favor of the measure and 28 against.

Results posted Tuesday evening by the Cape Girardeau County Clerk's Office were unofficial. The verification board meets Friday to certify the official results of the election, which will be posted later that day.

The municipality was the only one in Cape Girardeau County with a question on the ballot Tuesday.

The question asked whether the West End Market in the village should be allowed to sell single-serving alcoholic drinks "in accordance with alcoholic drink sales not exceeding 50 percent of food sales." Sales would not have been allowed on Sundays.

Oak Ridge has an ordinance prohibiting such alcohol sales in city limits, so the vote was necessary to gain approval for the business to get a state license for the alcohol sales.

Missouri's liquor-control law says in any incorporated city with a population of fewer than 19,500 people, sales of single-serving alcoholic drinks may be authorized by a vote of the majority of the voters of the city. Census data from 2013 shows the village has a population of 245.

The West End Market is the town's one-stop shop, offering groceries, basic necessities, movie rentals and more. It also cooks up daily meal specials and the occasional weekend buffet. It also offers package sales of beer.

srinehart@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

4053 State Highway E, Oak Ridge, Mo.