Residents favored bringing alcohol to the city, 3,791 votes to 3,032.

By Lauren Thornton Tobin|Hartselle Enquirer

Just 20 minutes after the polls closed at 7 p.m., the last vote was counted and it is official: Hartselle is going wet.

City residents voted in favor of bringing alcohol to the area 3,791 votes to 3,032.

Mayor Randy Garrison waited at City Hall while the votes were counted and seemed to be satisfied with the results.

“The people have spoken and they decided to move in a different path,” he said, adding that there is already a draft ordinance in the making.

Chairman of the Hartselle Citizens for Economic Development group Lee Greene said he thinks this will bring improvements to the city in the form of jobs and revenue.

“The city can come together, work together and improve jobs and opportunities in Hartselle,” he said. “We can be on a level playing field with surrounding communities. It’s been a long, long time for this to come.”

Greene’s observation could easily be seen as fact for most since residents began voting on the issue in 2010, making this the fourth time they took their voices to the polls.

Leader of the Families for a Safe Hartselle group Jeff Johnson seemed to be disappointed in the numbers and challenged city leaders to remember residents who have been negatively affected by alcohol.

“In all their excitement and the planning, I would hope they do not forget the dark side of alcohol,” he said. “Almost half of our city stood with someone who has been affected by alcohol.”