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Liquor by the Drink bill withdrawn

Commissioners' call to quash measure heard in Nashville

 

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

 

MAYNARDVILLE — Union County officials and religious leaders have managed to keep the punch bowl booze-free at one more Norris Lake marina.

 

Tennessee's House of Representatives was slated to vote today on whether to approve liquor by the drink at a second Union County boat dock, a measure that stirred up controversy in the dry county of roughly 20,000 residents.

 

But after pressure from Union County commissioners, the bill was withdrawn Wednesday in Nashville.

 

Commissioners on Monday unanimously approved a resolution opposing it.

 

'Obviously with that resolution they did not want it,' said Rep. Dennis Powers, R-Jacksboro, whose district is composed of Campbell and Union counties. 'I'm pleased with the way that happened and appreciate the sponsors doing so.'

 

Some commissioners regarded it as a sly move to bring in liquor. They say it should be up to Union County voters to decide whether to allow it, not legislators from outside counties.

 

The liquor by the drink amendment for the Union County establishment had been tacked onto a bill introduced by Rep. Harry Tindell, D-Knoxville.

 

Narrow focus

 

Although the bill did not name a specific business that would benefit, local leaders say it was directed toward Hickory Star Marina at 3905 Maynardville Highway.

 

Patrons there can buy beer by the six pack like most of the nearly two dozen marinas on Norris Lake.

 

Hickory Star Marina owners Dean Knuckles and Johnny and David Parton did not return calls for comment.

 

The bill described one marina so specifically it could not have been anything else, local leaders said.

 

The amendment would have allowed liquor there because it's considered a privately owned resort and recreational facility that 'has at least 145 acres of land … has a boat dock which includes a full service marina that includes at least 184 boat slips, at least room for 42 walkout houseboat slips.'

 

The maneuver is similar to how another Union County marina got its liquor permit nearly two years ago.

 

Of the 22 marinas on Lake Norris, seven are in Union County, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

 

At some of them, including Spring Dock Resort in LaFollette, patrons can buy beer by the six pack, while others including Blue Springs, advertise as a 'nonalcoholic vacation getaway.'

 

Only one marina serves liquor by the drink: Union County's Beach Island Resort and Marina.

 

It's licensed through a resort license, according to information from the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

 

A bill allowing the resort and marina's restaurant, Bubba Brew's Sports Pub and Grill, to serve liquor by the drink was approved by the Legislature in June 2009.

 

Tindell and Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, sponsored it, just like this year.

 

On Wednesday, however, Tindell withdrew the bill after Powers approached both the House and Senate with the Union County Commission's resolution. Powers said he told them he could not approve it.

 

'We don't ever do these over the objections of the local representatives,' said Tindell. 'But it was unclear as to who was on board and who wasn't. So we decided … not to pursue (it).'

 

Other lawmakers, including Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, opposed the bill.

 

'You have a consistent vote not to have liquor by the drink, then someone comes down to Nashville and overrules it by passing a bill, and often the legislator representing the bill doesn't have anything to do with the area,' Dunn said.

 

'The people have spoken, and it's just wrong. If the county has voted to remain liquor-by-the-drink free and one restaurant gets their buddies in the Legislature to pass it, they have a monopoly.'

 

Local opposition

 

Commissioners and other leaders were troubled because they say legislators outside their district were trying quietly to slide the bill in.

 

'They backdoored it,' Commissioner Wayne Roach said. 'Union County is a dry county. We feel like if Union County has liquor by the drink it should be on a referendum by the county, not an outside party.'

 

Commissioner Brenda Jessee said she was pleased with the Legislature's decision Wednesday.

 

'I know we can't stop the drinking completely, but the commission will do everything in its power to keep more liquor off the water,' she said.

 

Earlier this week, Midland Baptist Association Director of Missions Mike Viles and other ministers from various religious entities let county commissioners know they were unhappy about the bill.

 

'They spoke on … how it affects the community, the types of problems it can cause within the family, the number of accidents that could happen if it passes,' Union County Mayor Michael Williams said.

 

Local and state law enforcement echoed county government leaders' concerns.

 

After Bubba Brew's opened in 2009, boating under the influence offenses nearly tripled from the year prior, according to information from TWRA, which patrols the waters.

 

In 2008, officers arrested three people and the following year they arrested eight, TWRA statistics show.

 

This week, Bubba Brew's owner Ned Bass would not say whether he backed the bill or simply doesn't want competition.

 

'If I say it's good or bad people will be onto me,' Bass said. 'We're just taking a backseat. We'll run our business and try and stay out of it.'

 

Other local bar owners such as Joey Johnson had welcomed the bill — with stipulations.

 

'If it's liquor by the drink, I'm all for it,' said Johnson, who owns the 33 Tavern in Maynardville, one of four bars in town that serve beer. 'But if (marinas) can do it, we oughta be able to do it.'