Thursday, July 19, 2007

Winners Of "Liquor Store Lottery" Announced

   In order to fairly determine which four of seven applicants should be allowed to open liquor stores within the Lawrenceburg corporate city limits, leaders held a lottery-style drawing during their meeting Thursday evening.

   Members of the Lawrenceburg Board of Mayor and Commissioners Thursday opted last month to place limits on the number of liquor stores that will be allowed to open within the city limits.

   Citizens voted during a May election to allow the sale of hard liquor within the city limits. In June commissioners gave final approval to guidelines that will govern the sale of liquor. During the next meeting, however, (and at the urging of liquor license applicants) they opted to amend the guidelines to include limits on the number of stores allowed to open. One store per 2,500 residents will be allowed. Based upon the city’s current population, that means a maximum of four stores will be allowed to open.

   A total of seven individuals had applied for certificates of compliance that would allow them to continue with the process of obtaining a liquor license through the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC).

   During Thursday’s meeting, each applicant was asked to write his/her name on a piece of paper, seal that paper inside a film canister, then place it inside a covered box. Mayor Keith Durham then drew the names out, one by one. The four “winners” were:  Jacob Murdock, Ricky Gongwer, Deborah Hill, and Lloyd “Herbie” McGee, III.

   The names of the remaining three applicants were drawn, and placed on a list as alternates. First alternate was Mike Braly; second alternate, Sandra Campbell; third alternate, Vince Santini. Should an applicant fail to gain a liquor license through the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, the first alternate would then move into that slot. Those on the list would also have first option, should the 2010 census indicate that fifth store is warranted. In addition, City Attorney Alan Betz pointed out, should one of the four “winners” wish to sell his/her slot, the first alternate would have the right of first refusal, followed by the second alternate, then the third.

   Betz pointed out to commissioners that, “All seven applicants did meet requirements of a background check and their proposed business locations did meet distance requirements established by the board.”

   The addresses for the proposed stores are as follows:  1238 First Avenue, 2457 Highway 43 North, 115 Weakley Creek Road, and 215 South Locust Avenue.

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