High Springs businesses will be able to sell alcohol during extended hours on Sundays, and incumbent Tristan Grunder will continue serving in Seat 3 on the City Commission after Tuesday’s election.
Two hours before polls closed at 7 p.m., the city posted on Facebook that voter turnout was estimated at 10%.
Grunder garnered 587 votes over High Springs Charter Review Board member Julie Ann Tapia-Ruano’s 279 votes to secure another three-year term on the commission.
Commissioner Wayne Bloodsworth Jr.’s term in Seat 2 also ended this year; however, he will automatically rejoin the commission after running unopposed.
“I’m so happy High Springs trusts me to help move us forward,” Grunder told Mainstreet in a text. “I’m proud of how we ran this race and how we won, and High Springs responded!”
The candidates will be sworn in during the Nov. 13 commission meeting, where the City Commission will also vote on a mayor.
There were 622 voters who voted in favor of expanding alcohol sales on Sundays past 1 p.m. in the city, eliminating the need for breweries and other alcohol-selling businesses to seek special permits to do so. Only 206 voters opposed the expansion.
The code amendment to the “Hours of Sale” ordinance allows businesses deriving 51% of their gross revenue from food and nonalcoholic beverages and breweries, defined as businesses that manufacture malt beverages on site, to sell alcohol Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 1 to 10 p.m.
The vote settles an ongoing debate over what some called an antiquated ordinance targeting High Springs Brewing Company, which resurfaced during a joint meeting with the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners in June.
County Commissioner Ken Cornell originally suggested the City Commission repeal the ordinance itself instead of going through the steps to get it on the ballot. But a motion to do so failed, and the commission decided later that month to put the issue before voters.
In October, High Springs approved permanent exemptions for businesses to sell alcohol within 500 feet of property owned by a church if the church grants permission.
Voters also passed all five of the following charter amendments on Tuesday’s ballot:
- Updating commission seat information
Yes: 615
No: 182
The names of former commissioners who previously held the seats will be removed from the city charter, which will also designate when the current term ends for each commission seat.
- Updating commission salaries
Yes: 647
No: 172
The charter will allow for the salary of commissioners to continue at the same rate for the subsequent fiscal year in the event the commission does not act to change or continue their salaries.
- Updating the mayor’s term limits
Yes: 576
No: 244
The mayor’s term will be limited to one year or until a successor is elected. No commissioner will hold the position of mayor for consecutive terms unless by a supermajority vote of the then-sitting commission.
- Updating the notice for special-called meetings and the definition of special and emergency meetings
Yes: 717
No: 101
The charter will require no less than three days’ notice for special meetings and will define special meetings and emergency meetings.
- Barring a single individual from holding city manager and city clerk roles
Yes: 659
No: 154
The provision allowing a single individual to serve as both the city manager and the city clerk will be deleted from the charter.