BENTON – The final special-called meeting on the Marshall County ABC Ordinance was held Friday at 9:30 am in the Fiscal Court room.
Judge Miller entertained a motion to approve Ordinance #2015-04, Commissioner Dr. Rick Cocke made the motion which was seconded by Commissioner Johnny Bowlin. Commissioner Bob Gold voted no for reasons already stated due to being opposed of Sunday sales.
Judge Miller let it be known that although she is not required to vote on it, she does approve of the Ordinance.
Before the vote, Assistant County Attorney Jason Darnall went through the Ordinance by sections summarizing and addressing minor changes since the last meeting.
The county will officially go wet on Sunday, October 4th and applications will be accepted on Monday, October 5th.
Those planning to apply for a license must wait until forms are ready before they advertise their intent to apply for an alcohol license and the advertisement must meet specific guidelines which can be found in the Ordinance or on the website and Darnall emphasized to “not rush out right now and put anything in the paper.”
Darnall and Assistant ABC Administrator, Wendy Baxter, have been working on the application and plan to have those ready sometime next week.
“All of the forms will be on there which will be the easiest way to access the state forms, county forms and city applications”, Baxter said of the county ABC website.
Applications must be submitted to the Marshall County ABC Commissioner’s office before advertising an intent to apply for a license.
“I realize this has been an emotional issue for a lot of us and I want to assure everyone that up until the time I’m through in November, we are going to make sure everything goes as properly as it should”, Judge Chyrill Miller said.
“We’re going to make this something that is good for our county, not embarrassing for our county. I ask everyone that is going to be applying and wanting a license, to bear with us and have patience with us.”
“ We want to do everything right the first time. We may make mistakes but they will be accidental and we will fix them. We appreciate everyone and all their input they have given us.”
Background checks will be performed on each applicant at the county level. Sheriff Kevin Byars spoke to the background check saying he wanted it to be “a very good and thorough check.” Byars and Baxter will work together to make sure the background checks are done the best way possible.
Press statement from District 3 Commissioner Dr. Rick Cocke:
“On July 28, 2015, Marshall County voters and taxpayers decided by 202 votes that our county would become wet (12,660 people voted).
As our county structures an ordinance regulating the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in Marshall County, we need to maximize the positives and minimize the negatives associated with alcohol as it relates to tax rates, license fees, days and times of operation, signage and distance from our schools, churches and daycares.
After this ordinance is completed, it is my prayer that our community can heal and move forward as one, so Marshall County can continue to be second to none as a place to live and raise our families.