The next step to determine if Bullard will allow certain sales of alcohol was taken Friday, Feb. 5, when two local option petitions were submitted to Bullard City Secretary Doris Crockett.

Crockett said she will have to verify the signatures on the petitions, which include one for the legal sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption only and one for the legal sale of mixed beverages in restaurants by food and beverage certificate holders only.

“I will verify them (the signatures) by voter registration lists,” Crockett said.

The petitions were filed by Billy Horton, owner of Hard Count Inc., of Austin. Horton said he represents a group called Citizens for the Future of Bullard. His consulting firm was hired to help the group with the filing process.

According to Horton, his firm has been involved with about 90 elections for alcohol sales. Bullard is one of several communities, including Whitehouse, Troup and Jacksonville, where petitions for alcohol sales have been filed.

Crockett said once she has verified the signatures on the petitions, she will submit the results to the city council, which will call for an election. The filings were not made in time for the May Election, so an election regarding the sale of alcohol could be no sooner than the November General Election.