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	Council Approves Lounge License December 21, 2009 Alcohol issues dominated the Arab City Council agenda Monday night. The council heard requests and held public hearings on a new license request and a change in an existing license. Both requests were approved, but not without opposition to a lounge license request. A request to change the license for Vino, Inc was approved by the council. The amendment involved a change of ownership and relocation of the business. Johnny Burk, a former partner, and now sole owner of the business plans to move the business from the current location in the Dogwood Plaza shopping center to Northgate Shopping Center at 1124 North Brindlee Mountain Parkway. The Vino license is classified as a Retail Beer and Retail Table Wine (on or off premise) license. No one spoke during a public hearing on the proposed change. A request for a Class 1 Lounge Retail Liquor license was opposed during the public hearing. Max Miller told the council he plans to open the lounge in the building formerly occupied by CVS Pharmacy located at 770 Brindlee Mountain Parkway. Bill Crissey and Jack Hamilton opposed the license application during the public hearing. Crissey, who said he moved to Arab from Florida to get away from the problems caused by bars and alcohol sales, expressed concern over the possibility of increased noise and traffic from the lounge. Crissey said that he had lived in a small Florida city that went wet and experienced the changes that the bars brought to the city. Crissey told the council, "When bars open up there is going to be fighting and noise, it's just going to happen." He also told the council that when the good element moves out because of the bars the bad element moves in to take their place. "I am going to move if it happens in my neighborhood." Jack Hamilton told the council that a loune would devalue the surrounding property. "I can't help what people say, it is going to happen." He also said that where you have people drinking you are going to have trouble and the expense to deal with the problems is not covered by the taxes generated by the sales. In what was probably the most intense questioning of any applicant to date, several council members asked Miller about plans for security and noise. Miller said he planned to have 3-4 "bigger guys" at the business each night to head off any potential problems. "They will not be allowed to drink when they are on duty and they will break up any trouble before it gets started," Miller said. Miller said he does not plan to serve any food. Mayor Gary Beam told Miller the application for a bar was a serious matter." We are walking on ground that we have not walked on before and we have concerns." Councilman Ronny Shumate said a license can be revoked by the council at anytime if problems arise. Jimmy Reeves told Miller that if a license is revoked it will be very hard to ever get it back. A motion to approve the application based on the Alcohol License Review Committee was made by Councilman Bishop and seconded by Shumate. The cuncil voted unanimously to approve the license.

Council Approves Lounge License

December 21, 2009
Alcohol issues dominated the Arab City Council agenda Monday night. The council heard requests and held public hearings on a new license request and a change in an existing license. Both requests were approved, but not without opposition to a lounge license request.

A request to change the license for Vino, Inc was approved by the council. The amendment involved a change of ownership and relocation of the business. Johnny Burk, a former partner, and now sole owner of the business plans to move the business from the current location in the Dogwood Plaza shopping center to Northgate Shopping Center at 1124 North Brindlee Mountain Parkway. The Vino license is classified as a Retail Beer and Retail Table Wine (on or off premise) license. No one spoke during a public hearing on the proposed change.

A request for a Class 1 Lounge Retail Liquor license was opposed during the public hearing. Max Miller told the council he plans to open the lounge in the building formerly occupied by CVS Pharmacy located at 770 Brindlee Mountain Parkway. Bill Crissey and Jack Hamilton opposed the license application during the public hearing.

Crissey, who said he moved to Arab from Florida to get away from the problems caused by bars and alcohol sales, expressed concern over the possibility of increased noise and traffic from the lounge. Crissey said that he had lived in a small Florida city that went wet and experienced the changes that the bars brought to the city. Crissey told the council, "When bars open up there is going to be fighting and noise, it's just going to happen." He also told the council that when the good element moves out because of the bars the bad element moves in to take their place. "I am going to move if it happens in my neighborhood."

Jack Hamilton told the council that a loune would devalue the surrounding property. "I can't help what people say, it is going to happen." He also said that where you have people drinking you are going to have trouble and the expense to deal with the problems is not covered by the taxes generated by the sales.

In what was probably the most intense questioning of any applicant to date, several council members asked Miller about plans for security and noise. Miller said he planned to have 3-4 "bigger guys" at the business each night to head off any potential problems. "They will not be allowed to drink when they are on duty and they will break up any trouble before it gets started," Miller said. Miller said he does not plan to serve any food.

Mayor Gary Beam told Miller the application for a bar was a serious matter." We are walking on ground that we have not walked on before and we have concerns." Councilman Ronny Shumate said a license can be revoked by the council at anytime if problems arise. Jimmy Reeves told Miller that if a license is revoked it will be very hard to ever get it back.

A motion to approve the application based on the Alcohol License Review Committee was made by Councilman Bishop and seconded by Shumate. The cuncil voted unanimously to approve the license.