Published: July 03, 2008 04:22 pm            

Aldermen join group

ASHEBORO — Four Asheboro City Council have joined the Committee for the Future of Asheboro, a group supporting the legalization of controlled alcohol sales.

Keith Crisco, Walker Moffitt, Talmadge Baker and David Smith gave the “yes” four votes during a special City Council meeting in May to hold a referendum on the sale of on- and off-premises sale of beer and wine, ABC stores and mixed drinks. The referendum is July 29.

Crisco said he joined the effort because “as a businessman I have fought the battle of economic survival and I simply believe that we, as a city, need every tool available to help us attract economic success in the future. That includes the ability to increase our tourism industry, especially given the thousands of visitors who come to Asheboro each weekend to visit the N.C. Zoo.”

Moffitt cited potential revenues for the city coffers from the sale of alcohol that could ease pressures on property taxes.

He said, “The Randleman ABC store alone generated $238,532 for the City of Randleman general fund in 2007 and provided substantial funds for the City of Randleman Recreation fund, the Randolph County Board of Education, Randolph Hospital and substance abuse treatment. Much of that is money spent by Asheboro citizens for the benefit of Randleman. Profits from an ABC store along with sales and property tax revenue from new restaurants and hotels in Asheboro could be much more substantial than that enjoyed by Randleman if we attract those new businesses.”

The four councilmen say they believe legalizing and controlling the sale of alcohol will help the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce and the Randolph County Tourism Development Authority attract restaurants and hotels.

“It’s time for the people who visit here to stay here,” said Crisco. “It’s time to diversify our economy so that we are not dependent on manufacturing alone. Our unique location and tourism assets give us the ability to do that.”

Smith noted that “in addition to the tourism development component, we need more opportunities for our residents to dine and shop at home.”

        

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