ABC Denies Gas Station's 2nd Request For Alcohol License
Posted
Tim Robertson-trobertson@timesuniononline.com
The Kosciusko County Alcoholic Beverage Commission denied for the second time a request for a new beer and wine license from a North Webster business.
The request was from Freedom Oil LLC for the company's Freedom Express convenience store at 750 S Ind. 13, North Webster, Thursday.
Thirteen North Webster residents attended the meeting and signed a form to indicate they were opposed to the license. Two residents, Larry Kinsey and Helen Hoy, spoke against the request.
"In our community we have seven places they can buy and consume drinks," said Kinsey.
Kinsey said he doesn't feel it would hurt Freedom Oil's business to deny them permission to sell beer and wine.
"I don't think we need this because we have enough problems," said Hoy. "I really feel the premises is too close to other buildings. We would like to keep our town under control."
Freedom Oil managing member Gregory Cobb said he is requesting the permit because it will allow his business to compete with other area businesses.
"We also have a lot of customers who want it," Cobb said.
Cobb told the ABC he has a petition in favor of the permit that has been signed by 500 customers at his store. Cobb said 147 of the those who signed in favor are from North Webster and 83 are from Leesburg.
On Feb. 1, the ABC denied Freedom Oil's first request for the beer and wine license. At that hearing, seven North Webster residents spoke against the request. At an Aug. 8 appeals hearing in Indianapolis, the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission ruled to send the request back to the local board for a second hearing. Last month the hearing was continued because Freedom Express had not yet reposted a sign informing passers-by of the upcoming hearing.
Indiana Excise Officer April Tackett motioned to approve the request Thursday, but her motion died without a second. Then, ABC member Elim Smith motioned to reject the request. The board voted 3-1 to deny the request with Tackett voting against the denial.
Cobb said he plans to appeal the ABC's decision again. This time, the case will not be sent back to the local board. Tackett said the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission will decide whether or not to grant the request.
In other news, the ABC approved two new alcohol licenses.
The board approved a new beer, wine and liquor license for Dewart Lake Inn, 9522 North 300E, Syracuse, and a new beer and wine license for Good to Go convenience store, 625 Buffalo St., Warsaw. Tackett voted against the license for Dewart Inn because she said the sign announcing Thursday's hearing was not properly posted. Smith voted against the permit for Good to Go.
The board approved a transfer of ownership of a beer, wine and liquor license for Sleepy Owl Supper Club, 11374 North Ind. 13, Syracuse. Tackett voted against the transfer because the sign announcing Thursday's hearing had not been properly posted.
The board approved license renewals for Eagle Creek Farms Market, 802 Park Avenue, Winona Lake; Service Liquors East, 3720 Lake City Highway, Warsaw; Wings Etc., 2602 Shelden Drive, Warsaw; B. P. O. Elks #802, 310 E. Center St., Warsaw; Northside Lanes, 1535 N. Detroit St., Warsaw; Stimmelators Gentlemen's Club, 114 E. Washington St., North Webster; and Gilliam Lanes, Ind. 15 North, Warsaw.
