Story by Alicia Steele, Contributing writer

In July, Marshall County voted to legalize the sale of package alcohol within the county, and Mayfield could be next.

In 2012 the city of Murray voted to approve the sale of alcohol by the package, except on Sundays per city rule, expanding from a 2001 vote to sell alcohol by the drink.

As a result of this vote, restaurants and liquor stores such as The Big Apple Cafe and The Cellar Door have established business in the city. 

Boone Chambers, owner of both The Big Apple Cafe and The Cellar Door, said that Murray is a third class city, which means that the city has a population greater than 10,000 but does not exceed 20,000.

Third class cities have the ability to vote independently from the county on matters such as the liquor laws.

Chambers said a petition has been circulating through Mayfield, but the date of the vote depends on when the petition is turned in.

Chambers said the city of Mayfield cannot hold a vote 30 days outside of an election, so it is rumored that Mayfield may hold a vote in early December.

As of mid-August, around 450 of the needed 600 signatures had been collected for the petition to approve packaged alcohol sales in Mayfield.

Steven Cole, junior from Mayfield, said Marshall County going wet would be a good thing.

“It’s going to bring in a lot more businesses and help the city grow, and that’s exactly what Mayfield needs,” he said.

Cole said he grew up in Mayfield, and though it always had a small town charm, it’s time to bring more businesses into the city.

Cole feels that if Mayfield votes to approve the sale of packaged alcohol, it would result in the same scenario that the city of Murray experienced when they chose to approve the law in 2012, which was more businesses coming to Murray.

“Mayfield needs to grow like that” he said. 

Chambers confirmed that he has plans to expand his stores in the future, if the petition passes.

“I think it will pass; let’s be honest, its 2015,” he said.

He already has plans to expand his package store business to Marshall County, after the July vote is approved.

Chambers said the new law in Marshall County will have an impact on business in Murray.

“I get a small percentage of my business from Marshall County, so it will definitely have an impact,” he said.

Lauren Thomas, senior from        Benton, Kentucky, said she voted for the sale of alcohol in the wet/dry vote in Marshall County even though she isn’t a drinker.

“Ultimately,” she said. “I believe the government doesn’t have the right to decide what people are and aren’t allowed to consume.”