Knoxville Beer Board approves two permit items for Knoxville Collective owner Drew McKenna

The Knoxville Beer Board approved two agenda items related to Knoxville Collective and its owner, Drew McKenna, during a special meeting Tuesday, March 4, 2024.

The board convened with five members present and heard no public comment before taking up two items involving McKenna. The board’s clerk and a Knoxville Police Department representative reported that background checks showed no record and that the revenue office’s files were complete. The board voted by voice on both items; the presiding officer recorded “Ayes have it.”

Why it matters: The approvals clear administrative and licensing steps for Knoxville Collective to operate at the addresses presented to the board and let upcoming events planned by the applicant proceed pending compliance with any additional requirements.

Meeting details: The board first asked the applicant to state his name and address. McKenna gave a personal address of 5428 Blue Ridge Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee, and later provided a business address of 121 East Jackson Ave, Knoxville, Tennessee. After KPD confirmed a clean background report and the revenue office indicated files were complete, a motion to approve was made. Councilwoman Mackenzie made the motion on the second item and Councilwoman Fugate seconded the second motion; for the first motion a mover was recorded and a second was acknowledged though the transcript does not name the second member.

Both voice votes were recorded as “Aye,” and the presiding officer announced the motions carried. After the votes the presiding officer noted McKenna had an event that weekend and said the applicant had six events in total (as stated in the meeting). The meeting then adjourned.

The board did not record individual roll-call votes in the transcript; the board had reported five members present at the start of the meeting.