ROGERSVILLE — Rogersville City Recorder Bill Lyons said Monday he’s aware of at least six potential applicants who have shown interest in applying for Rogersville’s two liquor store permits which will be handed out sometime in April.
The actual number of applicants won’t be known until March 15 at noon when the application deadline arrives.
Last week the Rogersville Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the third and final reading of three liquor ordinances which officially legalize liquor sales in the city as mandated by a November voter referendum.
One ordinance establishes guidelines for liquor by the drink permits, although for the most part those guidelines are under the jurisdiction of the state.
The second ordinance established guidelines for liquor stores, which have more local options.
For example, Rogersville limited the number of permits available in the city to two. The BMA also determined that one permit will be issued to a business located east of Depot Street — the approximate center of the city — and one permit will be issued to a business west of Depot Street.
Upon giving its final approval last week, the BMA also lowered the minimum size of the store’s showroom from 1,200 square feet to 1,000 square feet.
A third ordinance which was approved last week on third and final reading changes the Rogersville Beer Board to the Rogersville Alcoholic Beverage Board (RABB) for the purpose of administering both beer and liquor permits.
Liquor store permit applications will be available March 1 at City Hall and are due March 15 at noon.
Lyons said the new RABB will then study the applications for about two weeks to verify eligibility.
At least two potential applicants were charged last year for selling synthetic drugs at their business, and both were cited again during a countywide sting Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 for underage beer sales.
Lyons said he’s not a member of the RABB, but he knows those violations are among the issues the board will take into account when determining applicant eligibility.
Assuming there is more than one eligible applicant for each side of the city, there will be a drawing to determine who gets the permits.
Lyons said that drawing date hasn’t been determined, but it will likely be early April, and possibly during the next BMA meeting April 9.