HENDERSON — Alcoholic beverages will be allowed at the city's community center and new civic center.
The City Council on Tuesday approved the ordinance by a 3-2 vote in front of a standing room only crowd.
The sale of alcohol in either facility is prohibited, and organizers must seek approval before serving alcohol at events. Alcohol consumption outside the buildings still is not allowed.
Though many residents were against the ordinance, city officials said allowing approved alcohol consumption could bring additional bookings to the facilities.
Robert Wells, a resident who spoke against the ordinance, said his biggest concern is how to control the amount of alcohol consumed at the facilities.
"There is an application process," said David Hill, chairman of the civic center committee. "The civic center has absolute discretion to call an event off or to close an event down."
Workers broke ground on the 27,000 square-foot, $4.8 million civic center about a year ago. Civic Center Director Adriana Roberts said the facility is slated for completion in January.
In other business, the council approved a $1.2 million loan and security agreement between Henderson Economic Development Corp. and the Rusk County Rural Rail District.
HEDCO agreed to finance the rail district's $1.12 million purchase of the Henderson/Overton rail spur from Union Pacific on Oct. 22. The board included funds for start up costs and legal fees in the loan agreement. HEDCO officials have given the rail district 36 months to begin repayment on the loan.
Built by the Henderson and Overton Branch Railroad in 1877, the line feeds into a larger line that runs west toward Smith County. Union Pacific announced plans more than a year ago to close the line because of a decline in use and the cost to repair it.
Rail district officials have made steps to revitalize the rail line.
The district has approached Blacklands Railroad, based in Sulphur Springs, to serve as the short line operator, John Cloutier, president of Rusk County Rural Rail District, said. Cloutier expects to begin moving freight for the 50 to 100 existing businesses in the area within 3 to 5 weeks.
