May 22, 2009 Beer Gets the Hamblen County Commission Engaged in Public Discussion

The Hamblen County Commission rarely engages in discussion during the monthly meeting of the full commission.

Yesterday's meeting would have been over in record time except that a beer permit was on the agenda.

The owners of Ridgewood Market at 2875 Reeds Chapel Road applied for a beer permit. A neighbor who lives within 300' of the market appeared to object to the permit.

[The county apparently passed a resolution many years ago stating that if a resident who lives within 300' of the proposed location where beer is to be sold comes to a meeting where the beer permit is to be considered and objects then the permit will be denied. During the discussion, I believe it was stated that a beer permit was requested for this same location in 2000, an objection was raised by the same neighbor, and the permit was denied at that time. It is my understanding that the county attorney stated during the meeting that the commission "could" go ahead and grant the permit and that would have the effect of voiding the prior resolution. But the attorney recommended that the county review its beer guidelines first and then re-visit this issue.]

Paul Lebel implied that allowing one person to stop the permitting process was un-American and that 300' was an arbitrary distance requirement.

The neighbor who objected to the permit--Mr. Livesay --took exception to Lebel's "un-American" comment and stated that Mr. Lebel had a right to his opinion and that he (Mr. Livesay) had a right to his opinion as well. Mr. Livesay was asked the basis for his objection. He stated that years ago when beer was sold at that location there had been drinking and noise at 1 am and 2 am in the mornings and trash thrown about. [Since beer has not been sold at the location for a lengthy period of time, there is not a grandfathering of that old permit.]

The couple seeking the permit said that there would not be a lot of loud drinking in the parking lot and that they needed the permit for extra revenue.

Joe Spoone moved to table the issue and consider it further in committee but no action was taken on tabling.

Paul Lebel made a motion to go on and approve the permit despite the recommendation from the county attorney and several commissioners that the county's beer permit rule be reviewed first and then the market owners could re-apply under any newly-adopted distance or objection rules.

Voting FOR going on and approving the permit were Larry Baker, newly-appointed commissioner Doe Jarvis, Paul Lebel, and Nancy Phillips.

Voting AGAINST were Dennis Alvis, Guy Collins, Stancil Ford, Doyle Fullington, Herbert Harville, Tommy Massey, and Reece Sexton.

ABSTAINING was Joe Spoone.

ABSENT were Dana Wampler and Ricky Bruce.

If I had to guess, the current Hamblen County beer permit rules and guidelines will probably go to a committee for review.