Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
The Altoona-Blair County Airport Authority is seeking to obtain an alcohol license for the restaurant in the airport's main terminal building in Martinsburg. Petitions are being circulated in North Woodbury Township in the hopes of acquiring enough signatures to have a referendum placed on the ballot in the May primary election.
The Altoona-Blair County Airport Authority is asking for support from registered voters in North Woodbury Township in helping to bring alcohol sales to the restaurant located in the main terminal building of the airport and build the airport into a strong catalyst for economic growth.
The authority has sought the help of registered voters in the dry township to circulate petitions in the hopes of acquiring enough signatures to have the following question on the May primary election ballot: "Do you favor the granting of liquor licenses to an airport authority for the sale of liquor in the township of North Woodbury?"
Sarah Seymour, director of elections in Blair County, said petitions can be circulated through March 12 and will need to be signed by 205 township voters for submission to the county elections office. She said if the authority gets the 205 signatures, the referendum will go on the ballot to approve a liquor license.
Seymour said the number 205 is 25 percent of the votes – 820 – that state Sen. Judy Ward received from North Woodbury Township voters in November's general election.
If this ballot initiative is approved by the voters in the township, only the airport authority would be permitted to obtain a liquor license. The airport authority's use of the liquor license would be strictly limited to property owned by the airport authority. The license could not be transferred to another owner in the township, and it could not be used off airport grounds.
The authority said that while the airport is located in a rural community, it is a gateway for travel out of, and into, Blair and surrounding counties, including passengers who are passing through on their flights between Pittsburgh and Baltimore-Washington International.
The authority said it is important that the Martinsburg airport be able to provide the amenities that travelers are accustomed to enjoying at larger airports. These amenities include a restaurant offering alcoholic beverages.
If this ballot initiative is approved, any concerned individual would be free to attend the authority's monthly public meetings at the airport at any time and voice any concerns that he or she may have about the authority's use of the liquor license.
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