Despite being a wet town for a decade, Rhome must hold a local option liquor election in order for the new Love’s Travel Center to sell off-premise beer and liquor.

Even though the citizens of Rhome legalized liquor sales in an election in 2001, a new ordinance is required to cover land annexed by the city since. The property where Love’s is located was annexed in 2010.

“The city is wet,” said city attorney Walt Leonard. “But the TABC (Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission) is very strict. The ordinance the city passed only covers areas that were inside city limits.”

Love’s is scheduled to hold a grand opening June 23. But the liquor election won’t occur until at least November. A petition must be turned over to the county to hold the election.

The liquor petition must have 103 votes, or 35 percent of the number of people who voted in the last gubernatorial election, to move forward.

Wilson honored

After serving as mayor, mayor pro tem and a council member on and off since the 1980s, David Wilson had his final night as a councilman during Rhome’s city council meeting Thursday.

Mayor Evelyn Obenour honored Wilson with a certificate for his service.

“I want to see Rhome grow and remain a great place to live,” he said of the future of the city, which is now third largest in the county.

He said Rhome has a lot of new residents, and it’s probably good for new faces to be seen on the council. However, he also said they must do their homework.

“I think before you run for council you need to start showing at the meeting six to eight months before and really learn what is going on in the city,” Wilson said.

“You take your bumps along the way, but seeing something like Love’s come to town makes it all worth it,” Wilson said. “It will create a lot of jobs and tax revenue for the city.”

Wilson also oversaw water and sewer improvements during his years of service to the city.

With Wilson’s departure from city politics, there will be at least one new face on the council after Saturday’s election.