By JIM GENARO

WEAVERVILLE ó Plans for a proposed merger between the Weaverville and Asheville Alcoholic Beverage Commissions moved forward last Monday, as Weaverville Town Council unanimously gave initial approval of a deal to join the two systems.
Before the vote, Town Manager Michael Morgan told the council members that this step was only one of several that would have to be taken to solidify the deal.

ìThe next step is to go ahead and work out the details with the Asheville ABC board and the Asheville City Council,î Morgan explained.

Weaverville has been negotiating the possible merger with Asheville for several months. Following a referendum last April, in which voters approved the sale of liquor, town officials had considered options that included setting up the townís own store, merging with Ashevilleís ABC board or joining with neighboring Woodfinís newly formed ABC board.

Under the current proposal, the Asheville board will help set up Weavervilleís first store and manage it initially, in exchange for a share of the storeís profits. This plan would save the town a significant amount of setup costs.

The measure had been considered at councilís meeting last month, but a decision had been delayed as the town and the Asheville board worked out further details, Town Attorney Patsy Bryson said.

Among those details were clarifications of certain terms, such as ìnet profits,î and assurances from Asheville that once the deal was completed, the city would move quickly to open Weavervilleís first store.

Curtis Canty, executive director of the Asheville ABC board, acknowledged that there are still some details to be worked out.
Councilman Al Root expressed concerns about moving ahead with the plan before those details get worked out.

ìJust to be clear, nothing weíre doing here tonight nails anything?î he asked.

Bryson confirmed that the resolution being considered would only state an interest in going forward, without committing the town in any way.

The measure was approved 5-0. Councilman Don Hallingse recused himself from participating in the discussion or vote because of a potential conflict of interest.

In other action, council:

ï Set 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15 as the date for a public hearing on a request for voluntary annexation of property at 25 Union Chapel Road.

ï Unanimously accepted the water and street system of Longstreet Court, Phase III, into the town. The system is part of the Hamburg Mountain Subdivision development.