Alcohol Controversy at March Commission Meeting

Smith News

Construction at the Central View Convenience Center has been completed, meaning that only a few steps remain before the new center can be opened. At the March Full Court County Commission, updates were given on Solid Waste, while a hefty handful of budget amendments were brought before the Commission.

Before the Commission began the meeting, Chairman Hutchings congratulated the Warriorettes, who were the district runners-up after being the first Warriorette basketball team to reach playoffs since 1992.

During the Full Court, Chairman Derrick Hutchings asked for an update on the Central View Convenience Center. County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said he spoke to the engineer that same day on the matter.

Two members of the audience requested time to address the commission during the Full Court for a specific matter relating to a business’s location. One, a resident dissatisfied with the bar’s proximity to her residence. The other, the property owner himself, who urged caution from the Commission before making any changes that could affect business owners.

The property owner said she moved here in 2016, excited with the beautiful home that is tucked behind a church. The church moved away, and eventually; a bar opened in the location.

“My husband and I were devastated,” she said. “Our once peaceful retirement home was now behind a bar. We are 270 feet building from building. Not what we signed up for.”

She claimed the noise and traffic has disrupted their livelihood. She even claims the business owner claimed he would not want a bar in front of his home. The property owner asked for the Commission to try and limit these types of businesses from operating so close to homes.

She finished off saying, “290 White County residents have signed my petition agreeing that there is a place for these businesses. The place is not in our front yard.”

The owner of The Silver Silo then spoke on behalf the business. He claimed he only wanted to speak on a few matters about the future of legislation on businesses. He began by saying that he made his business perfectly in line with regulations and rules at the time.

“I understand that some citizens may want the county to consider new rules about where future beer sales businesses may be located,” he said. “If the county wants to discuss future policy, I respect that process. But I would ask that such policy be considered carefully, applied fairly, and not used to single out one’s existing business.”

The petition in opposition to beer permit has approximately 20 pages of White County residents across the county opposing the issuance of a beer permit to The Silver Silo, citing several residential homes located around 300 feet of the establishment, proximity to a church, nature of the activities offered at the business, the history of the structure, and lastly, public safety and traffic concerns.

Amendments from the Budget Committee were all approved by the Full Court. From the three amendments, the first was $28,100 from the liquidation of Fireman’s Association. The second was elevator repairs for the American Legion building to the sum of $15,000. Lastly, a partnership with the Department of Justice for bulletproof vests that had a match of $12,408. Then, there was a separate resolution to approve $63,000 from the state that went to the Highway Department. The Budget Amendment also had a resolution to declare a 2015 Ford Explorer as surplus. All were approved, but Commissioner Becky Golden had a question first.

Commissioner Golden asked for clarification on the elevator funds for the American Legion, wanting to know if it was a matched grant, donation funds, or some other form of funding. Executive Robinson clarified the proposal was an initial 50/50 match. After that clarification, all the resolutions passed unanimously among present commissioners.