The commissioners credited the citizens of the county for their decision to lift the ban on serving alcoholic beverages at the Expo Center.

Judge Rene Mascorro asked the court to lift the ban two weeks ago but his request was met with apprehension.

“I’ve had numerous people contact me since the article came out in the paper about not being able to have alcohol out there,” said Commissioner Stanley Tuttle.

Commissioner Ann Lopez said she had also received numerous phone calls.

“We’re operating a building that has very little return and we have two buildings that serve the same purpose,” Lopez said.

Commissioner Gary Bourland was the lone hold out for lifting the ban. Bourland said he had also heard from his constituents and he kept up with the numbers.

“I had 47 calls and not one wanted alcohol,” he said.

The issue came to a head after the community center fell into disrepair and an LNV Engineering presented a breakdown of problems uncovered.

Lopez said in past experiences, lifting restrictions on liquor was a way to recoup funds for construction and renovation.

“We need to think about that, because taxes are not helping to grow our budget and we do have bills to pay,” Lopez said.

The commissioner said she had changed her mind about not lifting the ban.

“The buildings are going empty,” she said.

Lopez questioned whether the county should continue the upkeep on both buildings or do something with one of the properties.

Currently, the county is paying between $1,500 and $1,900 each month for electricity at the Expo Center and between $1,000 and $1,500 at the community center. The Expo Center was rented only eight times by paying customers last year and 65 times by non-profit groups that are not required to pay the $250 rental fee. The community center was reserved 28 times by paying customers and 105 times by non-profit groups.

Commissioner Rod Bernal said the electric bill goes on whether the centers are rented or not.

“We’ve got two buildings and we need to utilize both of them,” Bernal said.

“Compared to other counties who have civic centers, the $250 fee is way cheap,” Tuttle said.

Tuttle contacted Aransas and San Patricio counties and compared prices and services.

One county charges $925 for use of their entire civic center, which can be cordoned off into one-half and one-quarter sections. That county charges an extra $250 if a wooden dance floor is used, an extra $150 for use of the kitchen and an extra $150 for use of the stage.

“If they serve food, they charge for that and if they serve alcohol, they charge for that,” Tuttle said.

Tuttle also contacted Harvey Diershke, president of the fair board, about the fees charged at Padilla Hall. Tuttle said the fair board cut rates and reported rentals down since the Expo Center was opened.

The court did not make a decision about raising the rates during the meeting.

Judge Mascorro also reported that a $35,000 Energy Efficiency Block Grant has been earmarked for renovation of the community center.

“I commend you for being so alert and putting the block grant in the context of our community center,” Lopez said.