Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Alcohol Regulation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Giles County reduces county beer-distance rule from 600 to 200 feet after heated debate
Summary
The Giles County Commission voted to reduce the required distance between places that sell beer and schools, churches and other places of public gathering from 600 feet to 200 feet after hours of testimony and discussion; an amendment to extend the buffer to 1,000 feet failed.
The Giles County Commission voted to change the county''wide minimum distance between beer-selling establishments and schools, churches and other places of public gathering from 600 feet to 200 feet after public comment and lengthy debate.
Commissioner Butler, who sponsored the resolution to match the county''s rule with the city of Pulaski, said the change would make county rules consistent with the city and allow businesses outside city limits the same licensing opportunity. "It only makes sense to do this," Butler said during debate.
The measure drew hours of public comment. Business owners including Elgin Lee Rhett, owner of Lee Rhett's Kitchen and Seafood, urged loosening the restriction, saying the change would help small restaurants and bring more sales tax to the county. Opponents, including several residents from Bryson and other rural areas, said reducing the distance would place alcohol sales closer to churches, schools and neighborhoods and could harm community safety.
The county attorney advised commissioners that Tennessee law requires the straight-line method for measuring distance between buildings unless a statute says otherwise and noted state attorney-general guidance that measurement should be from the nearest portion of the entire building. The attorney also told the commission it cannot shorten statutory sale hours for beer; counties may extend but not reduce the statutory hours set by state law.
During debate, Commissioner Jones offered an amendment to expand the buffer to 1,000 feet and, after discussion, modified that amendment to grandfather in existing permits between 600 and 1,000 feet. That amendment failed on a roll call vote of 5 in favor and 15 opposed. The original motion to set the distance at 200 feet then passed on a recorded vote of 12 ayes and 8 nays.
The resolution does not change state rules for liquor (liquor-by-the-drink sales), which are controlled by state law and can be issued at locations closer than any local beer-distance rule; county beer rules govern only county beer permits.
Commissioners and the county attorney discussed possible additional local restrictions such as limiting hours or placing grandfather clauses in future revisions; the attorney said including a grandfather clause is permissible and advisable if the commission wants to protect existing businesses.
The new 200-foot rule applies countywide. Commissioners said staff and the beer board will implement the change consistent with the legal guidance the county attorney provided.
Votes and next steps: the amendment to 1,000 feet (with grandfathering) failed 5-15; the main motion to adopt 200 feet passed 12-8. The county attorney advised staff to prepare implementing language and to clarify how distances will be measured (straight-line, building-to-building).
