The group of more than 60 people, who are calling themselves Citizens Against Alcohol, met after a petition was filed with county clerk’s office and the fiscal court approved a city-wide vote on the issue for March 23, 2010.
On Friday, January 15, a petition with more than 800 names was turned into the clerk’s office requesting a special election to allow for what is called a Limited 100 vote. This vote will allow restaurants within the city limits to sell alcohol if they meet the requirements to seat more than 100 people and that 70 percent of the revenue comes from food sales.
The Limited 100 vote has made its way across the state in several cities since its inception in 2001.
The CAA had a guest speaker at the meeting who explained the dangers of allowing this law to pass in the city.
Don Cole, Executive Director of the Kentucky League of Alcohol and Gambling Problems, spoke to the group and answered questions.
“This is an uphill battle folks,” said Cole. “But if this thing passes you need to be aware of what it means and how you can control it.
“If this thing passes you need to make sure you have someone on the regulatory board that sets the law,” he continued. “The city council can push for stiffer regulations than those that are imposed by the Limited 100 Law.”
He said Trigg County currently had two preachers on their board.
Cole encouraged the crowd to ask for data from the opposing side on economic development and how the legalization of alcohol will benefit the city.
“When it is sold in restaurants the taxes earned will go to the state not the city and the only money the city will make is from licensing fees,” he said.
Several members of the group voiced concerns and made plans on ways to combat the alcohol vote.
The mother of two young children who lost her husband to a drunk driver was the first to call for a plan of action.
“We are all very passionate about this issue but we still do not have a plan,” said Shelly Geary. “I have a baby girl who never met her dad and a young son who barely knows him because of a woman who chose to drink and drive.”
It was decided the group would stand together in the fight against the proposed law.
“If all the churches that are represented here tonight will stand together as one voice we will be heard, “said CAA organizer Chester Shartzer. “If we show the people we are against this we can defeat it. But we must fight it in a peaceable way.
“We can’t vote for this but our county taxes have to pay for this election,” he added. “The county has to pay $3,600 to hold this election, each poll person is paid $100 and there are four at each precinct.”
Property owner Charles Day refuted the claim that the vote is for economic gain. He said he owns property in Leitchfield that would be ideal for one of those restaurants or hotels and has spent the last several years contacting companies trying to sell his property.
“I have spent the last couple of years contacting different businesses to sell my property to and they have never once asked if we allowed the sale of alcohol,” said Day. “What they do say is that we are too small or our population does not support their business.”
The group will meet again on February 8 at 6 p.m. at Clearview Baptist Church.
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