Local ABC Members Talk With Excise Commander About Conflict With Officer
Posted
Tim Robertson-trobertson@timesuniononline.com
The Indiana Excise Police district commander attended the meeting of the Alcoholic Beverage Commission of Kosciusko County Thursday after a controversial December meeting.
At the ABC's Dec. 6 meeting, board member Elim Smith asked excise officer April Tackett to transfer to another county. Smith and ABC president Gordon Vanator were dissatisfied with the results of dissenting votes Tackett cast on two requests at the board's Nov. 1 meeting.At that meeting, the board approved a request for a new wine, beer and liquor license for Dewart Lake Inn and a request for a transfer of ownership for the Sleepy Owl Supper Club by votes of 3-1. After suggesting the board continue the cases, Tackett voted against both requests because she said the signs announcing the Nov. 1 hearing were not posted at the sites according to state regulations. Though both requests were approved by a vote of 3-1, a split vote meant the petitioners were required to attend hearings in Indianapolis in order to receive their alcohol licenses.
At Thursday's meeting, Folk said he was attending to observe. He spoke with Vanator and ABC member Kenneth Johnson (Smith did not attend the meeting) about their conflict with Tackett.
"The only thing the opposing vote did was make it impossible for the papers to be issued immediately," Folk said.
Vanator said he and other board members were not aware of the state policy which prevents petitioners from receiving their licenses immediately after a split vote.
"I think you should have let us know," Vanator said.
Though all three ABC members have been on the board for several years, Vanator said the state does not provide a course to help local board members become familiar with state policy. Folk reminded the ABC members that they work for the state, and Tackett said she will make a point of informing board members when a vote will result in a delay in a petitioner receiving their license.
In other news the ABC:
n Approved a new beer and wine license for Fresh Monkey, a gourmet foods store at 202 N. McKinley St., Warsaw.
n Approved license renewals for Pizza King, Warsaw; Duffy's Pub & Grub, Syracuse; Wal-Mart Supercenter No. 1304, Warsaw; and Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 3760, Syracuse.
n Approved a transfer of stock for the Channel Marker, Syracuse.
n Continued a request for a license renewal from El Arriero No. 2, Warsaw, until the board's Feb. 7 meeting. Tackett said the restaurant was cited with a violation Feb. 20, 2007, when one employee did not have an employee permit to serve alcohol. No representative of El Arriero attended Thursday's meeting.
