Woodfin council expands ABC board to five and appoints three members

The Woodfin Town Council voted Oct. 21 to increase the town’s ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) board from three to five members and appointed three applicants to the expanded board.

Council debate focused on whether the council should expand the board before interviewing candidates. One council member argued the town needs the larger board to avoid quorum problems when members are absent; another said appointing without interviews could discourage other applicants and preferred to wait. The motion to both expand the board and appoint the three applicants passed on a roll call vote, 3–2.

Council member roll call was recorded during the vote; the clerk announced the tally as “three, two.” The council then called the three appointees — Michael Carroll, Jackie Craig and Ronnie Lunsford — to the podium for brief acceptance remarks. Carroll said he and his wife “believe in community service” and was glad for the chance to serve. The appointees were told to prepare to work with the ABC store and to consider revenue opportunities (including discussion of a billboard).

The council discussed practical matters tied to expansion: staggering initial terms for the two new seats so elections would not replace a majority at once; the additional per‑member cost (one council member cited $1,800 per year per member); and regulatory constraints under state ABC rules. Staff noted that once a board moves from three to five members, reverting to three would require permission from the state ABC commissioner.

Next steps: the appointees were seated and council asked them to begin work; no additional interviews for the vacancy were scheduled at the meeting.