Operators of two local businesses, who previously couldn’t qualify for a beer permit because they were deemed to be too close to churches in their neighborhoods, filed new applications for a license Tuesday after the county commission changed the minimum distance regulations Monday night.
Debra W. Sacran of D& D Market is seeking an off premises permit to sell beer at the store she and her husband David operate at 7166 Short Mountain Highway, Smithville.
Viva Gail Johnson has filed an application for an on and off premises permit to sell beer at Jewel’s Market and Pizza on North Congress Boulevard, Smithville.
As WJLE reported Tuesday, the county commission Monday night voted seven to five to rescind the 2,000 foot rule that the county has had in place since 1939 and adopt 800 feet as the minimum distance required between a store seeking a beer permit, and a church, school, or other place of public gathering measuring in a direct line, the nearest point to the nearest point. From the building to the building.
Sacran was denied a beer permit in July 2009 because her store was measured to be only 856 feet from the Mount Pisgah Free Will Baptist Church. With the change in the minimum distance requirement to 800 feet, Sacran will now most likely qualify for a beer permit.
Johnson’s application was denied last October by the beer board because Jewel’s Market and Pizza is within 2,000 feet of the new First Assembly of God. She too will most likely qualify now that the minimum distance rule has been changed.
In an interview with WJLE Tuesday evening, Sacran said she and her husband are delighted with the county commission’s decision. “We are relieved with the conclusion. This has been an ongoing thing for us since 2009. All we’ve asked the entire time is to be able to compete and we’re very thankful that its over. I just want to thank those commissioners and folks behind the scenes that have understood that this needed to be done and that we needed to get off of a 1930’s law with the county. Our city (Smithville) has been up to date for a lot of years. We just appreciate that they (commissioners) understood that this was a business decision and that it was good for the county,” said Sacran
According to Sacran, it has become more difficult for small country stores like her’s to survive over time now that the larger retail chain stores have moved in. “When we came out here, Smithville did not have a Walmart. There was no Rite Aid. Many of the things that are going on in the city now were not even there then. We’ve found it harder and harder to compete and this economy has been very hard on all of us. All we’ve ever asked is to be able to compete fairly across the board,” said Sacran
The DeKalb County Beer Board will meet Thursday night, March 1 at 6:00 p.m. at the courthouse to vote on the acceptance of the Sacran and Johnson applications, along with another application for an on and off premises permit from a group filing as Back 9, LLC doing business as Riverwatch. The group is associated with the North Alabama Bank, Bank of LincolnCounty. Final action on approval of these applications will come during the April 5 beer board meeting.
Members of the DeKalb County Beer Board are Harrell Tolbert, Frank Thomas, Dick Knowles, Jim Stagi, Mack Harney, Robert Rowe, and Edward Frazier.
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