A decision to remove about 40 grapevines planted outside the town hall here has set off a debate over the region's growing wine industry and a town's hard line against sales of alcohol.
The vines were planted by local growers outside the town hall, which also serves as a regional tourist-information center. But last week the council voted to have them removed.
"This is a government center -- it's not supposed to be a vineyard," said Quincy "Bud" Byrd, a town councilman. "A lot of taxpayers are against alcohol ... we don't need to be growing it outside." He also worries that mature vines will block the town hall from view.
The town council voted 3-2 to remove all but three vines. Some town employees rushed to dig up some of the vines to plant at their own homes, even as some leaders called for more discussion. About half remain.
The tourism-development authority spent $500 on the vines and is paying nearly half the debt service on the building.
"It is very unfortunate -- we're here to promote travel and tourism," said Michael Wilson, who operates the Hampton Inn in Jonesville and is on the board of the tourism-development authority. "We want to get as many people to the area as we can."
Local vintners, who donated their time and labor to plant the vines and put in posts, are angry that town-council members ordered the vines removed without study or discussion.
Mark Greene, the owner of Elkin Creek Vineyard, planted the vines and had an agreement with three other vineyards to maintain them.
"It makes it sound to me like there are those who really don't understand the impact the vineyards have," he said.
For years, Jonesville has been conservative when it comes to alcohol, said Scott Buffkin, the town's interim manager.
Voters in Yadkin County approved wine sales in May 2006. Then, in September 2006, residents in the county seat of Yadkinville approved the sale of beer and mixed drinks as well as a liquor store. But in neighboring Jonesville, where voters also went to the polls, a similar proposal was defeated. Jonesville also shot down alcohol sales in a 1999 referendum.
The only chain grocery store in Jonesville, a Food Lion, still doesn't sell wine.
Jonesville began planning its $1.3 million town hall near Interstate 77 more than two years ago with the idea of building something that would attract people traveling along the interstate, said Ron Niland, the former interim town manager. The town's administrative staff and police department would work out of the building, but the center of the building would be a dedicated visitors center.
"The whole idea was to have that look of something of a mountain chateau, a winery, a vineyard, so it's inviting to the public and to have the local wineries do the vines," he said.
The town moved offices into the building in mid-April. The vines were planted two weeks ago.
Inside, the Yadkin Valley Chamber of Commerce began staffing an information desk seven days a week and as late as 8:30 p.m. A video playing on a monitor shows wineries and vineyards and other activities in the Yadkin Valley. The vineyards and wineries are bringing thousands of people a month to the area, something that Jonesville leaders need to consider, said Wayne Moore, a councilman who voted against the measure.
"Our motto is the ‘Heart of the Yadkin Valley,'" he said. "The Yadkin Valley Wine Festival last weekend brought 10,000 people to our area. It fills our motels. They buy gas. They buy food. I think we need to take advantage of our location being in the heart of the Yadkin Valley."
The wine festival, which is held in neighboring Elkin, has a one-day economic impact of $650,000, said Laurette Leagon, the president of the Yadkin Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Laurette is hoping that a compromise can be found.
"The welcome center in Jonesville, which is what we prefer to call it, it's going to help generate excitement about our area and get people to go to these places," she said.
■ Sherry Youngquist can be reached in Mount Airy at 336-789-9338 or at syoungquist@wsjournal.com.
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