To the editor

Editor,

We attended the January meeting of the Diboll City Council and learned the true feelings of the majority of our elected councilmen concerning the vote to waive a variance that will allow a business to sell alcohol in a location within 300 feet of a school, church, childcare facility, hospital, playground or public park.

The vote was taken:

1. Without all councilmen present.

2. Without all the councilmen understanding the "loop hole."

3. Without the presence and advise of the city attorney.

If the vote had been tabled in the December meeting it would not have passed in the January meeting according to the poll that was taken at that meeting.

It gets more complicated. The city attorney has explained that even if the councilmen had voted against the waiver to give Brookshire Brothers permission to sell alcohol near our primary school they could do so anyway according to a sub ordinance that allows businesses to sell or serve alcohol if the sale of it is less than 50% of its gross sales.

This controversial vote was not about allowing Brookshire Brothers the right to sell alcohol inside the city of Diboll. They got that right from the majority of the voters who voted "yes" for the second time in May. Brookshire Brothers now sells alcohol in two stores in Diboll on either end of town, coming or going. This vote was about the right to sell alcohol within 300 feet of Diboll Primary school.

At this point, we wonder if the vote had been tabled, could the majority of the councilmen agree to change the "loop hole" before voting again on Brookshire Brothers' request?

From the January meeting that was televised, we do know the majority of the councilmen would NOT have voted IN FAVOR of Brookshire Brothers' request. After learning this, we plead to Brookshire Brothers to reconsider their decision and NOT SELL ALCOHOL in their #35 location adjacent to our Diboll Primary school. We encourage you to express your opinion.

Respectfully submitted,

John Ra1ph & Sandra Pouland Diboll