Liquor in Loudon closer to
reality
Vicky Newman News Herald
Although the final public hearing brought
another standing-room-only crowd, plus emotional testimonials
and appeals from recovering alcoholics, Bible scriptures and
heated discussions, the Loudon City Council adopted a Loudon
liquor ordinance Monday that will allow alcohol to be sold 200
feet from churches and schools.
Council member Lewis “Charlie Brown” Garner cast the only
dissenting vote. Voting to approve the ordinance as proposed
were Council members Eugene Lambert, Michael Cartwright, Lynn
Milsaps and Mayor Bernie “Inky” Swiney.
Bishop J.D. Brown, pastor of Word of Faith Church on Mulberry
Street, asked council members to reconsider the distance
requirement, and make it “at least 1,000 feet” before finally
adopting the proposed ordinance. Brown expressed disappointment
that the council reduced the distance when Garner was ill and
unable to attend the meeting.
“A lot can be said about the perils of alcoholism, and it’s
relevant,” Brown said. “We are seeking diligently to change
lives, and get them free from alcohol, and I don’t think it is
appropriate to have it right next door. But, if it does happen,
we will do our best to take those customers and convert them.”
Brown also said the church had been informed by their insurance
provider that insurance premiums would increase if they were
within 500 feet of a liquor facility. “I don’t think we should
burden our parishioners so someone else could buy spirits,” he
said.
Michael Prince, owner of the Showers of Blessings florist shop,
said he opposed allowing liquor sales in downtown Loudon. Prince
said his shop is across the street from a proposed liquor store
location.
“Our concern is the same as the church,” Prince said. “We’ve
already been broken into twice. We ... don’t want the kind of
clientèle that comes (to a liquor store). There is a different
clientèle that buys beer on their way home from work than is
buying spirits. As ministers, we have dealt with alcoholics and
drug addicts, and when they want this and get set on it, there
is not any way to stop them; they got to go get it. If it’s got
to go somewhere, don’t put it in our neighborhood.”
Bart Iddins, the convenience store owner who had expressed
interest in selling liquor, said he did not agree with Prince.
“I believe the clientèle that would buy Jack Daniels is not that
much different from the ones that buy beer. I intend to run a
credible establishment and cater to the needs of folks that want
to buy liquor. We are not trying to push it on people.”
Lloyd Yearwood, who said he was an evangelist, told of becoming
an alcoholic at age 13, and described his longstanding personal
battle with the addiction. “Thirty-four years ago, I was an
alcoholic drinking liquor, beer, paint thinner... I am not for
(liquor sales) at all. Every bit of it is just junk that we do
not need to put out for our kids to get it. I have seen lives
destroyed.”
When the matter was brought up for a vote, Garner said he still
thinks the distance restriction should be at least 350 feet, and
would like to restrict applicants/owners to city of Loudon
residents .
“What bothers me is we could make this as strict as we want it,”
Garner said. “We’re doing a disservice to the voters — we sold
them short. It is ... one of the hardest votes I’ve had in 12
years. You people want to make money, but I think it is dirty
money. I believe in separation of church and state, but I cannot
separate the love I have for God in my heart. I have to be
accountable when I stand before God, and this upsets me. I can’t
believe our community has come to this.”
Milsaps made the motion to approve the proposed ordinance. “I
can’t see 100 feet making a lot of difference, and I don’t know
that we could improve it that much,” he said.
Cartwright said citizens were wrong to blame the council. “We
are going to have a liquor store. It is going to be here... I
believe we are doing our best with what we’ve got to work with.
I second the motion.”
After the roll call vote, Swiney addressed the audience. “I want
to remind you all that it has been determined there will be a
liquor store in Loudon. Our responsibility is to see it is done
properly, in a Christian manner. That sounds like an oxymoron,
but we were handed this thing cold turkey; we had no choice in
the matter.”
Applications for liquor store establishments will be available
Jan. 21, and must be returned by March 5. Applicants will be
required to pay a $300 fee per proposed establishment. The fee
will allow city officials to conduct background and financial
checks on applicants. Also, the applicant will be required to
advertise the proposed liquor store location three times in the
local newspaper, and include the public hearing date, March 16,
for public comments.
The council is still leaning toward a points system for
selecting the applicant, but have not yet established the
criteria. Ed Bell, who worked to get voter approval of liquor
sales, said he neither understands the reason for using a points
system, nor feels applications should be released to the public.
“You put this out at the last meeting, and there will be
financial information on those forms that the public shouldn’t
see,” Bell said. “You are charged with making a decision. What
is the purpose for points? Let us submit an application and you
guys make a decision. It is totally up to you all.”
Bell said the idea of an applicant remaining anonymous was
ludicrous. “According to the application, anybody can look at it
and tell who it is. Might as well put the names on them and
y’all look at them...”
Liquor stores open in Loudon
without residents' approval
WBIR.com
A state law means liquor stores will open in an East Tennessee city despite the fact residents there voted against them.
The Loudon City Council approved a new liquor ordinance Monday night.
It calls for two liquor stores within the city limits.
Loudon city residents voted against a referendum allowing liquor stores in November.
However, city officials say because county voters passed the measure and a state law requires the stores to be within city limits, the new businesses must go in Loudon.
The city will begin accepting applications in March.