Commissioners plan to let voters decide liquor-by-the-drink change

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

When Bourbon County Commissioners meet Tuesday, April 17, they are expected to adopt a resolution to allow voters to decide if drinking establishments can sell liquor by the drink without any food sales requirement.

Commissioners met with city officials Tuesday to discuss language for a question to be placed on the Nov. 6 General Election ballot.

The discussion was a continuation from March 27, when commissioners met with Boiler Room Brewhaus owners Brian and Barbara Ritter, Fort Scott city officials City Manager Dave Martin, Director of Economic Development Rachel Pruitt, Director of Tourism Larry Gazaway, Director of Community Development Rhonda Dunn and Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks.

Since that time, Meeks said he has researched the history of the liquor-by-the-drink law in Kansas and learned at least one other county is asking voters to change their local ordinance.

According to information Meeks provided, Kansas was the first to enact prohibition in 1881 and the last state to allow liquor to be sold by the drink in 1986. The state allows counties three choices: to be a totally dry county; to allow liquor by the drink, but require the establishment to have 30 percent food sales; or to sell liquor by the drink with no required food sales.

As of Jan. 5, 66 counties require 30 percent food sales, 33 percent allow liquor by the drink with no restrictions; and six counties are dry.

On March 27, city officials asked commissioners to consider placing a question on the ballot to make an exception for microbreweries. They presented information that shows the economic impact a microbrewery can have on a community. The Ritters and Gazaway said they would welcome additional microbreweries in the community.

“We were looking at it the wrong way,” Gazaway said Tuesday.

He said the change should not be for microbreweries only, but also for all businesses selling liquor by the drink.

Other business

• Following a 10-minute executive session with Meeks and Public Works Director Jim Harris to discuss matters of attorney-client privilege, commissioners agreed the county would do environmental cleanup at 1480 215th Street.

The work will be a good-will effort as the county is not taking responsibility or admitting damage was done following a fire that destroyed a county-owned tractor on a neighboring property, commissioners said. The decision was based on a recommendation from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, they said.