BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — As the City of Inez embraces its new status as a wet city, Mayor Ed Daniels and the City Commission convened a meeting Thursday with Prestonsburg Mayor Les Stapleton and ABC Administrator Ross Shurtleff to gain insights into managing alcohol licensing.
Shurtleff, guiding the commissioners through the process, emphasized the importance of the online BELLE portal managed by the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. This system requires applicants to upload several documents.
“There’s a series of documents, very specific and very stringent, that applicants have to have before they can even apply,” Shurtleff explained.
A key requirement is documentation proving the legal right to occupy the premises for alcohol sales. Additionally, applicants must submit an affidavit of publication from the newspaper showing they advertised their intent to apply for a license.
“There’s a draft copy the ABC provides that says it has to have these things in it,” elaborated Shurtleff.
This initial step is followed by a state review and a public comment period, offering the community a chance to voice support or complaints to the state ABC.
Further explaining the process, Shurtleff mentioned that the city administrator receives notifications for licenses requiring local approval. The local administrator’s role involves ensuring businesses are in good standing with respect to local ordinances and taxes.
Following local approval, the state schedules a site inspection and will create a map of points of sale and storage areas for alcohol.
Shurtleff also highlighted the post-approval steps, including the requirement for businesses to apply for a local mirror license within a number of days of receiving their state license. The city will determine the number of days. In Prestonsburg, Shurtleff gives the businesses 10 days.
Shurtleff added that he reminds businesses about annual license renewal when necessary.
When Shurtleff has to revoke a local license, he emails the state, resulting in immediate revocation of the state license.
Mayor Daniels queried about the impact of alcohol sales on DUIs in Prestonsburg, asking if the number had increased with the sale of alcohol.
Mayor Stapleton responded, “As a matter of fact, they haven’t.”
Stapleton said the number of domestic violence cases decreased after Prestonsburg went wet.
“We didn’t have Sunday sales originally, but now that residents can go to a restaurant, sit down and watch the ballgame, their wives can take them and drop them off, we don’t have as many because they’re away from the house.”
Commissioner Jennifer Wells commented, “Most of your DUIs are drugs now,” a point Stapleton agreed with, noting the advantages of having alcohol available locally, which reduces the need for longer trips and encourages the use of designated drivers.
Shurtleff offered his continuous support to the Inez commissioners in the licensing process.
“It’s a quick drive over here,” he said. “We’ll come at any point.”
Stapleton recommended Inez officials attend ABC classes.