Webb Denies Off Premises Liquor License Application

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
Date: May 23 2016 9:17 PM

WEBB: Tonight in a packed Webb Council Meeting, Webb Mayor Eddie Hamm and members of the Webb Town Council voted unanimously to deny the application for a "off premise" liquor store.

The application by the Patel’s was for the store located at Enon Road and Highway 52 East. Webb Police Chief Jimmy Holley said the store met the qualifications however he had concerns. Chief Holley said the intersection had a lot of wrecks, a lot of crossing at that intersection, and a lot of school buses. Chief Holley said it was at the beginning of the school zone on Highway 52.

Mr. Patel currently has a off premise license to sell beer and wine. Mr. Patel attempted to communicate to the Webb Town Council there was no difference. The store would be separate from the grocery store with separate entrance and exits. Mr. Patel told the commission no one under 21 would be allowed entrance into the store, and no "on premise" consumption would be allowed.

Several in the audience spoke in approval of the license. A couple spoke in opposition of the license.

Mr. Patel presented to the Webb Town Council Members some 400 signatures which requested approval.

Chief Holley stated to the Webb Town Council that the majority of the people who completed the survey's at Express It Store were in favor, but others he spoke to were opposed the liquor license for the store. Chief Holley said they were opposed to it than in favor of it.

For a liquor store to sell alcohol they have to purchase it from the State of Alabama and re-sale it. So the taxpayers of this state are already in the liquor business.

Mr. Patel, who wants to be a good neighbor to the Town of Webb will be exploring his legal options for the future.

COMPARISON

I have no opinion in this issue. But I laughed when I heard some of the comments in the meeting.

When Dothan was bring Flying J to Highway 231 South and Ross Clark Circle. What an outrage. People complained, it was going to be drug infested, a traffic nightmare, an area for prostitution.

After one year I pulled the Dothan Police Department call history for Flying J. The top number of law enforcement activity after one year of Flying J, was officers calling out there to eat.

They had like 2 complaints for prostitution and both were unfounded.

So all of the hype and community uproar about Flying J, well it proved to be unfounded.

Then the number of traffic accidents at Flying J. When the issue came up, accidents were going to be out of this world.

That argument proved to be wrong.

Then I remember when Hooter’s was coming to Dothan. Man there was outrage everywhere. Dothan was falling apart and headed for the gutter when Hooter’s came to Dothan. Some neighbors were outraged. Friend and political fallout.

You never even really knew Hooter’s existed. No issues what so ever.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE PROBABLY MOST OF THE DOTHAN POLICE CALLS COME FROM IN A WEEK?

The answer will be coming shortly and you will be surprised.