Wooden who owns the Little Italy restaurant in the village applied for an on premise beer permit back in June of 2019. His application was denied by the beer board, on advice of the beer board attorney.

Many years ago, Loudon County adopted their current beer permit regulations that include the 2000' rule. This means that a beer permit shall not be issued within 2000' of a church, school, daycare or any other place of public gathering. Little Italy was well within 2000' feet of the Tellico Village library. In a previous court case in Sevier County, a library was ruled a place of public gathering. Given that case law, the board attorney advised the board to deny.

Under the law, the restaurant owner had 60 days to file an appeal with the court. Of course, the appeal is far beyond the 60 day period.

Oddly, I was named in the lawsuit but I'm not even on the beer board.

The county attorney is working on a response to the suit.  

Click Here To Read Suit