Bolivar council revisits liquor store ordinance

Bolivar City Council members heard from two local business owners during their regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 8, who asked council members to consider making changes to the ordinance that allows the City of Bolivar to have package liquor stores.
Maria Howell, owner of El Ranchito’s and Maria’s Pizza and Wings in Bolivar, wants to open a new shopping center adjacent to Tractor Supply Company. One of the businesses she wants to open is a liquor store, but according to the ordinance as it is written, any liquor store must be located in the Devco footprint in downtown Bolivar. She wants to locate her business well outside that area. Howell said her new project is ready to go and would bring needed jobs and businesses to the county.
Another business woman, Paula Harris, owner of the building that used to house the Family Dollar Store, also addressed the council and asked council members to consider removing a section in the ordinance that will not allow a liquor store within 500 feet of a church or school. She said that she has several people interested in using the building for either a liquor store or a restaurant, but that provision in the ordinance is preventing her from doing so.
    Council member Julian McTizic introduced an ordinance to amend the current liquor ordinance to remove the provision only allowing liquor stores in the Devco area by allowing liquor stores in an area zoned B-2. This is McTizic’s second attempt at getting the Devco provision removed The amendment did nothing about removing the provision banning liquor stores within 500 feet of a school or church. The ordinance failed 3-4-1, with Quintessa Hamer, Larry McKinnie and Julian McTizic voting yes, while Randy Hill, Todd Lowe, Willie McKinnie and Suzanne Rhea voted no. Tracy Byrum abstained.

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