Two Brookhaven residents have begun working toward legal liquor sales within the city limits by collecting signature for a petition to force a referendum on the issue.

     “I think it’s necessary for the economic development of Brookhaven,” said Kathy Behan, who began circulating a petition last week.

     Behan has partnered with Bill Perkins in the initiative and both said they’d like to see a liquor referendum on the ballot of the Nov. 6 election, though optimism for that possibility has ebbed.

     “It’s a long shot, but it could happen,” Perkins said.

     The petition reportedly needs approximately 2,200 verified signatures of registered voters, as at least 20 percent of the qualified electors in the city must sign the document.

     A simple majority of the vote must support legal liquor sales in the city for the referendum to pass. However, if the referendum fails, another could not be held for two years.

     Voters must be given notice 30 days prior to the scheduled election date of the referendum, meaning no referendum could be scheduled for the Nov. 6 elections after Oct. 6.

     Perkins suggested that if the Nov. 6 date proves unfeasible, a special election could occur to settle the question of liquor sales. Behan also suggested municipal elections next spring as a possible date for the referendum.

     Whenever the election occurs, Behan is confident in its chances for success.

     “Everyone I have talked to is in favor of it even if they don’t want to sign (the petition),” Behan said.

     Perkins’ experiences collecting signatures thus far have been similar.

     “I’ve only gotten positive feedback,” he said.

     Behan said anyone interested in signing the petition should contact her at 601-833-8662.

     If voters approve a referendum allowing the sale of liquor in Brookhaven, aldermen would have the authority to pass an ordinance allowing package stores in the city or restricting alcohol sales to onsite consumption at restaurants.

     Current laws in the city allow beer sales for onsite consumption and package sales.

     A bill passed in the most recent legislative session allowed cities of more than 5,000 people or any county seat in a dry county to hold a referendum on whether to allow liquor sales in the city limits. Previously, referendums on liquor sales had to be held countywide.

     Since the bill was passed, aldermen have publicly discussed the restaurants that have located in McComb, while Brookhaven has largely missed out because it’s dry.

     However, despite discussion on the subject, there’s been no petition publicly circulating until last week.

     Behan said it was time to actually get a petition out there and let voters decide. Perkins echoed her comments.

     “I jumped in because I heard about this for two months but everyone was waiting for someone to get started on it,” Perkins said.