The Heath City Council will meet Monday, Aug. 17, to vote on placing an alcohol-related measure before voters on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

The special meeting agenda posted Aug. 11 shows the council will consider an ordinance ordering a special election "for the purpose of voting on a Local Option Election." Under Texas law, local option elections determine which types of alcoholic beverages a community can sell.

The agenda does not specify the exact ballot proposition language, so it remains unclear whether the measure would expand or restrict alcohol sales in Heath. The city's current code already permits some sales, including beer and wine for off-premise consumption at convenience stores and drive-throughs.

Two-county logistics

Because Heath straddles Rockwall and Kaufman counties, the council will consider two separate resolutions authorizing Mayor Jeremiah McClure to execute election service contracts with both county election administrators. Under state law, when a local option election is held in a city, the city (not the county) conducts and pays for the election.

Pending litigation

Before taking up those items in open session, the council will enter executive session to consult with its attorney on two matters: the Local Option Election petition itself and pending litigation styled City of Heath v. Honorable Ken Paxton, Attorney General of the State of Texas (Cause No. D-1-GN-23-001939). The case number indicates it was filed in Travis County district court in 2023. The nature of the dispute has not been publicly disclosed.

Regional context

The election push comes after two failed attempts by a consultant working on behalf of Total Wine & More to place a similar measure on the ballot in the neighboring City of Rockwall. Rockwall City Secretary Kristy Teague certified both petitions insufficient: the first fell short by at least 328 valid signatures on Aug. 21, 2023, and a second attempt was rejected Jan. 10, 2024, after missing the threshold by at least 344 signatures.

Rockwall County is classified as "partially wet" by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, meaning alcohol sales rules vary across jurisdictions within the county.

What's next

The Tuesday, Nov. 3 election would coincide with the statewide general election. The special meeting is open to the public at City Hall, 200 Laurence Drive, at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17.