Liquor by drink may come to Wartrace

The Wartrace Hotel may be getting another chance to get liquor by the drink. On Tuesday night, the board of Mayor and Aldermen passed a resolution to allow a survey of voting residents of the town to see if they wanted the board to request a special exception from the state legislature.

In February, owner Joe Peters asked the board to ask the state legislature for a special exception, but the resolution to do so died for lack of a motion. Other than Mayor Don Gallagher's explanation of what the resolution was for, there was no discussion.

There was plenty of discussion at Tuesday night's meeting, however, most of it taking place before any motions were made.

Peters addressed the board first, saying that at his first attempt, he "didn't have a solid idea on the way the hotel was going to go."

Now, he said, he has decided on using the live music angle as the foundation for building the hotel's business, and with a more definite business plan in mind, he wanted the board to reconsider the possibility of petitioning the state for the special exception that would allow him to serve liquor by the drink.

After his speech, Peters left.

Gallagher told the board that even if they passed the resolution and petitioned the state for the LBD exception, there was no guarantee the state would approve it.

"'Don't you think the citizens of Wartrace should have some input?' Alderman Ed Simpson asked. He added that customers were already allowed to bring their own bottles to the hotel.

"And I think that's the worst thing," he said. "With liquor by the drink, he'd have more control."

"I don't think the community understands what it's all about," said Alderwoman Patsy Gregory.

Because Wartrace has fewer than 1,000 registered voters, it can't call a referendum to decide if liquor by the drink can be allowed. In order to allow the hotel to serve alcohol, a special exception to the law would have to be granted by the state legislature, who will only consider it if asked to by the town's governing body.

Alderman Scott Claxton finally made a motion to allow a petition, or survey, asking the Wartrace voters their opinion and Simpson seconded it. Again, Gregory was concerned that the citizens wouldn't understand.

"They might think they're signing it for liquor by the drink or against it."

What the town's petition for the voters will be, clarified Gallagher, is asking them if they want the board to request a special exception for the hotel to serve liquor by the drink.

Claxton, Simpson and Gregory voted to approve that motion with Alderman Thomas Hurt voting no and Alderwoman Jean Gallagher abstaining.

The petition will be kept at the town hall during regular operating hours, said Mayor Gallagher, and anyone who lives in Wartrace and is registered to vote can come in to sign it. Town recorder Laura Gentry said if they can't come in during regular hours, they should call her and special arrangements can be made,

After hearing the town's decision, Peters said he was glad to see things moving forward.