Lenoir City voters have cleared the way for standalone liquor stores inside city limits, approving a referendum by a 64.6%-to-35.4% margin, but the vote itself is only the first step. City officials now have 60 days after election results are certified to write the rules that will actually govern how those stores operate.
The referendum appeared on the Loudon County sample ballot for the November 3 election, asking voters whether to permit retail package stores to sell alcoholic beverages in Lenoir City, according to the Loudon County election sample ballot. The measure passed Tuesday night, as reported by WVLT, meaning standalone liquor stores are now allowed within city limits even though the operating rules have yet to be written. Before the vote, Lenoir City only allowed beer sales, liquor by the drink, and wine sales in grocery stores, the station's report notes.
What Happens Before Any Store Can Open
Once the election results are certified, the clock starts on a 60-day window for officials to establish rules and regulations governing liquor store operations within the city, according to WATE 6 On Your Side. Only after that period wraps up will business owners be able to apply for a permit from the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, per the same report.
City Council member Robin McNabb told WATE that officials hope to hold a workshop on the issue in the next couple of months before bringing a formal ordinance to the council for a vote. That timeline suggests Lenoir City shoppers shouldn't expect liquor store shelves to fill up overnight, even with the referendum now decided.
Tax Revenue Still Up For Debate
Where the new tax revenue should go remains an open question among city leaders. Mayor Tony Aikens said he favors putting the money toward the Parks and Recreation Department, while McNabb has suggested directing it toward city roads instead, per WATE's reporting.
On the tax rate itself, Aikens offered an early expectation rather than a final figure. “We charge 8% on wine. I would imagine we'll do that on the liquor stores as well,” he told the station, though other fees and final rules have not been settled.
A Measure That Had Failed Before
The push for liquor stores in Lenoir City wasn't new this election cycle. Derrick McNellie had previously suggested that earlier ballot measures failed but that population growth might shift voter sentiment, telling WATE in an earlier report that “this time, the ballot measure can succeed where others have failed” — a prediction that held up Tuesday night.
Lenoir City isn't the first Loudon County community to take this step. Voters in the nearby City of Loudon approved retail package liquor sales back in 2008, according to WVLT, giving Lenoir City officials a regional precedent as they now work out their own rules in the weeks ahead.
