by Patti Cox
In a special-option election that is destined to change the
complexion of this small conservative community, the voters
showed up in record numbers and loudly voiced their will.
Voters said “yes” by a margin of 106 votes, 656 to 550, to the
question posed, “Are you in favor of the sale of alcoholic beverages
in the City of Lancaster?”
The historic vote ends the county’s alcohol prohibition that
has been in effect since the late 1940s.
Nearly 50 percent of all registered voters cast ballots in comparison
to the last five elections average of 31.4 percent.
“Voters had a choice and they made their choice,” Mayor Don
Rinthen said.
“I’m just glad everyone got to vote,” Rinthen’s wife Loretta
added.
Rinthen has been in favor of the measure since the beginning for
economic reasons. But he also wants people in the community to
know that they are not going to wake up tomorrow to find a bar
across the street.
The Kentucky Alcohol and Beverage Commission will send
representatives to the community to train officials on all the legal
steps that will follow, Rinthen said.
It will take a minimum of 91 days, according to Nathan Jones
with ABC before the first package liquors will be sold in town
and that’s a push to say the least. In fact no one can even
apply for a license for 60 days following certification of the votes.
It will also take at least that long to write the application
and define the fees.
The next steps will take another 30 days.
A local official to overseeand review applications must be appointed,
Jones said. That person will be responsible for approving or
denying each application based on whether or not it meets the
specifications.
If it does, it is sent on to the state while the applicant advertises
its intent to sell liquor to provide for public opposition. If everything
falls in line the license is then issued.
But the applicant is still not off the hook. ABC then sends
out a field
investigator that has full police power in the state. They do an audit and get a
blueprint of the facility so ABC knows where the alcohol is going to be sold or
served.
If the audit is good and all the paperwork is submitted correctly, the application
receives final approval and is returned to the business for posting before the
first item is sold.
“It depends on the applicant and how efficient they are in taking care of all their
items,” Jones said when asked about a realistic estimate of how long it will take.
The vote allows for seven package liquor stores to open in Lancaster, a
stipulation based on the county’s population. It will also allow for an unlimited
number of beer licenses. It will not allow liquor by the drink in restaurants unless
the city council enacts a resolution and then those restaurants would have to
apply for a separate license.
No bars or entertainment facilities of any kind are part of this equation. For that
to happen the citizens would have to bring the question to a ballot for the people
to decide again. Speculation though, with Lancaster being the last stop for
people traveling south to stock up, is that it could become a magnet for people
especially in the surrounding counties to buy their liquor.
“I’m hoping they’ll spend their money here,” Rinthen said. Officials including
Garrard’s economic-development director, Nathan Mick, are optimistic about
the potential for growth that a vote of this nature will produce.
“This is an historic and defining moment for Lancaster,” Mick said. “It’s exciting
to be able to work through the opportunities for economic development that have
opened up with the outcome of this election.
There’s still a lot of work to do, he said, eluding to the possibility of attracting a
new grocery store, more restaurants and several other businesses.
“I think you’ll see jobs grow with the success of the wet vote. As economic-
development director, it puts a whole new set of tools in the kit.
“It’s a great opportunity for Lancaster.”