City Grants Certificate of Compliance for Second Liquor Store

The city’s second applicant for a license to open a retail liquor store in Smithville has passed his first test.
The Smithville Board of Aldermen Thursday night voted to issue James E. Bradshaw of Potts Camp Road, Smithville a certificate of compliance, which signifies that he has met all the city’s ordinance requirements to make application to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, the agency which has the sole authority to grant a liquor license.
The vote was four in favor. Alderman Shawn Jacobs passed.
Bradshaw plans to open a liquor store 725 South Congress Boulevard at the location of the former Mexican Restaurant in the Food Lion shopping center under the name “Center Hill Wine and Spirits, LLC”. James E. Pendergrass of Jefferson Road is to serve as the manager of the business. Bradshaw is a former owner/manager of Pates Ford Marina.
According to City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson, the proposed location for the liquor store meets the minimum distance requirement from the nearest place of public gathering. “Mr. Phillip Gotro (Gotro Surveying Services) conducted a survey on July 7 showing 588.9 feet from the front door of the proposed business to the closest door of the DeKalb County Community Complex so it exceeds the 400 foot (requirement),” he said.
Regulations under the city’s liquor ordinance also require the applicant (Bradshaw) to be subject to a criminal background check.”We did a TBI background check on Mr. Bradshaw. Northing came back as far as the background check,” said Hendrixson.
“As far as the city ordinances, he (Bradshaw) meets all of them. He meets the 1,500 minimum square foot requirement. The building is 2,200 square feet. He has been a resident of DeKalb County for more than two years. He is going to keep a minimum inventory of $175,000, more than the city minimum requirement of $150,000,” said Hendrixson.
Bradshaw must now send his approved Certificate of Compliance to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission as part of the state requirements in qualifying for a liquor license.
Meanwhile, the city’s first liquor store applicant has apparently been approved for a license by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
During a meeting on June 23 in Nashville, the TABC staff recommended conditional approval for applicant Jimmy Edward Smith, sole proprietor of Smithville Discount Wine & Spirits at 413 East Broad Street, Smithville, subject to a TABC Inspection, Acknowledgement of TABC Rules/Regulations, and a License Fee.
In other business Thursday night, the aldermen approved Fire Chief Charlie Parker’s promotion of firefighter Kevin Adcock to the rank of Lieutenant. “I am proud to announce that on June 29 I promoted Kevin Adcock to the officer’s position of Lieutenant of the fire department. Lieutenant Adcock met all the requirements set forth by our department. We have changed this year to doing a performance based officer’s position. He has met the requirements so pursuant to city rules we need to get approval from the board. I am recommending to the board to approve Lieutenant Adcock to this officer’s position,” said Chief Parker.
The aldermen also approved the mayor’s reappointment of Walter Burton to the Smithville Electric System Board to another four year term expiring in 2019.
It appears the mayor and aldermen will not provide space at city hall for judicial commissioners to write warrants, except for those sought by the Smithville Police Department.
During the regular monthly meeting of the county commission in June, County Mayor Tim Stribling announced that Sheriff Patrick Ray has given notice that he will no longer provide office space or supplies and equipment for the judicial commissioners at the jail as of July 31.
While the county is considering other location options, Fifth district commissioner Anita Puckett made a motion that a letter be sent to the Smithville Mayor and Aldermen asking for them to provide space at city hall for use by judicial commissioners including the supplies and copier they need. The reason for making the request of the city is because the county funds all salaries of judicial commissioners who write warrants for the public and all law enforcement agencies including the Smithville Police Department. The motion was approved on an 11-0-1 vote. Seventh district member Kevin Robinson, who is employed by the city, passed.
Although the issue was not on the agenda for Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting of the Smithville Mayor and Aldermen, it was brought up by Alderman Josh Miller. “I didn’t know if we have the room (for the judicial commissioners),” said Miller.
“We’ve got the room for our officers and our warrant writers,” answered Mayor Jimmy Poss.
“”Our facilities are used for city matters,” said City Administrator Hendrixson.
“We’ve got ours covered here. We want our warrants wrote back here (city hall). We’ve got a confined place and we take care of city business,” said Mayor Poss.
No motion was offered or vote taken on granting or denying the county’s request.