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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- More than 150 Duncansville residents have signed petitions in support of a ballot referendum that could clear the way for liquor sales inside a borough that's been dry since 1935.
The Blair County Board of Elections -- scheduled to convene at 9:30 a.m. today in the public meeting room at the courthouse -- will review the proposed question for Duncansville voters, and if approved, it will be on their May 16 primary ballot.
Based on the meeting's agenda for the board of elections, the petitioners had to provide the county with 121 signatures to get the question on the ballot. The agenda indicates that 154 were submitted, with no objections to date.
Duncansville Borough Council member Annette Lewis, who spearheaded the petition drive, said the effort developed from a desire to attract more business to the borough, especially in light of developing bike trail routes that will bring in riders and visitors.
Lewis said some of the residents she asked to sign the petition weren't aware that Duncansville is dry.
"They would mention a place that serves alcohol, and I'd have to say, no, that's in Allegheny Township, or no, that's in Blair Township," she said.
Duncansville has been dry since its residents, on Nov. 5, 1935, voted to eliminate beer and liquor sales, as advocated by the churches.
Lewis said that when she asked people to sign the petition, a few people said no.
"It wasn't a lot," she said. "But there were ones who wouldn't sign and said it was based on religious principles."
If the county elections board agrees to put the question on the ballot, all registered voters in the borough will have a chance in May to vote yes or no.
Four years ago, voters in two other Blair County municipalities -- Roaring Spring and Williamsburg -- approved referendums allowing liquor sales in their communities. Those in favor viewed the option as beneficial to existing businesses and to attracting future business. Also in 2019, voters in North Woodbury Township voted in favor of allowing the Altoona-Blair County Airport to obtain a liquor license for use at an on-site restaurant. The license, currently used by LaFiesta, is often recognized as one of the reasons for the airport restaurant's ongoing success.
While the county commissioners generally make up the board of elections, Commissioner Bruce Erb is the only commissioner serving this year. Because commissioners Amy Webster and Laura Burke are running for re-election, Donna Fisher and DeAnna Heichel were appointed to serve on the elections board this year.
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.