LENOIR CITY, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) – A petition that could bring the first retail liquor store to Lenoir City is approaching a critical deadline as supporters work to gather enough signatures to place the issue before voters this November.
Currently, Lenoir City allows beer sales, wine sales in grocery stores and liquor by the drink. However, retail package liquor sales, the type sold in standalone liquor stores, are not permitted within city limits.
Local business owner Derrick McNeillie, who owns The Casual Pint in Lenoir City, launched the petition effort in June in hopes of changing the city’s alcohol regulations.
“Nobody has tried to change that law in several years. So I kind of asked around, found out what steps need to be taken to make that change,” McNeillie said.
Petition Needs More Signatures
According to the Loudon County Election Commission, the petition must collect 209 verified signatures from registered voters living within Lenoir City limits to qualify for the November ballot.
McNeillie said Tuesday morning the campaign had secured 175 signatures, leaving organizers 34 signatures short of the requirement before the noon Thursday deadline.
One challenge, he said, has been determining whether potential signers actually live within city limits.
“The zoning is kind of weird here. You have city limits and county,” McNeillie said. “A lot of people that sign think they live within city limits, but actually don’t. Or, they realize they’re not registered voters.”
Keeping Tax Revenue Local
McNeillie said one motivation behind the effort is preventing local tax dollars from leaving the city.
Residents who want to purchase liquor currently must travel outside city limits to do so, often shopping in neighboring communities.
“All the tax dollars are given elsewhere. And to me, it just doesn’t make sense for people of Lenoir City to go outside of the city limits to get their liquor,” he said.
McNeillie also believes population growth and changing attitudes could make the proposal more successful than past efforts.
“I think the big thing is there’s a lot of new people that have moved into Lenoir City that’s got different beliefs and viewpoints on liquor and alcohol in general,” McNeillie said.
He added that if voters eventually approve package liquor sales, he hopes to open a liquor store himself.
Residents Split on the Proposal
Reaction among residents has been mixed.
Lenoir City resident Allen Kennedy said he opposes the change, arguing the city has more pressing economic needs.
“We don’t need a liquor store. What we need is more jobs,” Kennedy said. “We have enough alcohol in this county already, but we don’t have enough jobs to go around to support the economy that’s trying to grow.”
Meanwhile, resident Hannah Ingram said she does not have strong feelings about the issue but supports entrepreneurs’ ability to open businesses.
“I don’t really care either way,” Ingram said. “But I also support entrepreneurship and business. So I think if someone wants to open a liquor store, that’s fine.”
What Happens Next?
If organizers gather enough verified signatures by Thursday’s deadline, the measure would appear on the November ballot for voters living within Lenoir City limits.
A similar measure was approved by voters in the neighboring city of Loudon in 2008.
Residents interested in signing the petition can do so at The Casual Pint in Lenoir City before the deadline expires.
