Liquor Store Referendum Explain

So where can liquor stores go now? Short answer, the city of Loudon only. The state law allows for a county to hold a liquor store referendum provided that if it passes, liquor stores can only operate in a municipality/city or a county district of 30,000 or more residents. Of course Loudon County has no districts even close to 30,000 in population.

Why Loudon and not Lenoir City? State law provides that a city with the population equal to or greater than the population of the smallest county in the state is required to hold their own referendum on the question of liquor stores. Thus, Moore County has the smallest population in the state with a population of 5740 as of the 2000 federal census. So the city of Lenoir City, pop. 6819, with a population greater than Moore County must hold it's own referendum and is not impacted by the outcome of the county referendum. On the other hand, Loudon, pop. 4476, has a lesser population than Moore County. Thus, Loudon can not hold their own liquor store referendum and are subjected to the outcome of the county referendum.

What about Philadelphia and Greenback? State law also prohibits a city with a population of less than 1000 from holding a liquor store referendum or allowing liquor stores within their municipal boundaries. Since neither Greenback, pop. 954 nor Philadelphia, pop. 533, would be allowed to have a liquor store. Population totals based on 2000 federal censes.

So the passage of the county referendum will now allow liquor stores in the city of Loudon. Ironically, the voters in the city of Loudon voted not to permit liquor stores. The Loudon City Council can determine how many liquor stores may locate in their city.

It would have been nice to have defeated the referendum in both the county and Lenoir City. But a partial victory is better than no victory at all. I'm sure those who have worked so hard to bring in liquor stores will be back in a couple of years. So will we.

A look at the precinct by precinct break down of who supported the liquor store referendum is interesting and surprising.

	County		Percent		City
Precinct	Yes Liquor	No Liquor		Precinct	Yes Liquor	No Liquor
Browder	295	444	40% 60%	Lenoir City	1149	1199	49% 51%
Davis	150	187	45% 55%	Browder	133	141	49% 51%
Eatons	1596	1891	46% 54%	Eaton	44	86	34% 66%
Greenback	498	582	46% 54%	Highland Pk.	15	5	75% 25%
Glendale	515	451	53% 47%
Highland Pk.	1347	1175	53% 47%	Total	1341	1431	48% 52%
Lenoir Out	339	354	49% 51%
Loudon	755	886	46% 54%
Loudon Out	716	711	50% 50%
Luttrell	102	173	37% 63%
Philadelphia	317	552	36% 64%
Tellico Vil.	947	367	72% 28%
Tellico Vil. E	3303	430	88% 12%

Total	10880	8203	57% 43%

I would like to personally thank everyone who worked to get the word out and who voted not to permit liquor stores in Lenoir City. If you have one of the "Vote Not To Permit" signs in your yard, hang on to it. I'm sure we will need them again.