INDIAN TRAIL: To Drink or NOT?
July 11, 2006...saw a lot of people show up for the council meeting. The headliner for the evening was the planning boards request for the council to explore putting the item of liquor by the drink on an eventual reforendum. Everyone that spoke on the subject during the evening all had very valid points for and against the issue. A lot was made about the Morality vs Economic issue. I believe it to be more of an economic issue than about morality. If an area has liquor by the drink...you morals guide you whether you should drink or not. If you drink, you are by no means an immoral person. Their are temptations all around us everyday...you have the choice and should have. Same goes for liquor by the drink....the people of a community should be given a chance to voice their opinions. Not just 5 people that were elected. Each person above the age of 18 has the ability to decide for themselves.
It is an economic issue, but only if you discuss the tax dollars if they leave Union County. Other communities in the area have liquor by the drink, those tax dollars come to the ones that don't the same way if the establishments were in the particular town. Restaurants like Chilis, Applebees, a fine steakhouse or any big box type restaurant won't come to a community without LBTD>. Just won't happen, they make too much profit on the drinks and the bottom line is made on alcohol sales. This will affect the downtown project as well, considering they are looking for a restaurant or two, to anchor their project. Though you will build your tax base also, the cost associated with LBTD has to be looked at also. There would have to be an increase in police protection which negates any ad valorem tax brought in by the restaurant. In the end 3 councilmembers ( Cass, Killough, Schallenkamp) voted to not explore the request for liquor by the drink.
The other highlight had to be the town giving Sheriff Cathey $11,600 dollars to put towards defibrilators for the cars that patrol IT. Very good use of the money..you don't ever what to have to use them, but if you need it and the sheriffs deputies arrive with them your chances of survival go up.
Three presentations were heard for the update to the ordinances. Five total were heard and a contract award should be forthcoming.
Extreme Ice told the council the Checkers would be utilizing their facilities for the next 5 years. The grand opening elebration would be in the September time frame for the facility though they would open in the August time frame.
I am sorry I had to leave early and have nothing else to report at this moment.
posted by Lee Godwin at
8:43 PM
6 Comments:
I have to say something for the 2nd time in 2 months the Mayor has really impressed me with a statement she made about the question of LBTD and the investigation of the subject. Maybe it is just because I agree with her position that the council should have directed staff to get information about this subject and report back to the council so they could make a more informed decision. I am not going to say that I believe the same things as the Mayor, but I have to compliment her when shes right. It is only fair considering all the times I have jumped her when she was wrong.
Lee Godwin, your posts have a common thread. You will defend the actions of Schallenkamp, Cass, Howe & Smith to the ends of the earth. You refuse to believe any of these are capable of wrongdoing.
We are each entitled to our own opinions. You believe what you say to be true as much as I do. However, over time, the facts will be revealed. There are two sides to each argument, how many times have you engaged in conversation with past and current council members of Indian Trail. Even the most casual observer notes that you make a beeline to one of three you so openly support.
Do you as a future planning board member understand the philosophies of all council members? Will you take the time to get to know them? Will you continue to believe that the ones you support are incapable of lies? Will your opinion of the “others” continue to be filtered through the impressions and observations of your neighbors? You seem shocked when a member of the minority says something you actually agree with; it’s as if you have been preprogrammed and it’s a new concept for anyone, other than your three, to make any sense.
You state your application for the planning board had been in for two years. That tells me you were overlooked and never considered, but rose to the top as soon as your neighbors gained majority rule.
I think it is shame that none of the prior planning board members were retained. There is a lot to be said for history, knowledge and continuity. That is the purpose for staggered terms and there has to be a reason most of these people have served for many, many years. I do believe that new members will have a new interest, but having the support of knowledgeable senior members is an advantage for the entire town. You expressed disappointment over not getting a vote from the minority of the council members…you should have expected it.
As for Ed Smith, I have no particular fascination for the man. You initiated my thoughts by one of your previous posts. I am now happy to report there are copies available of signed invoices and requests for services by Ed Smith. These were done during his term as mayor. Perhaps he just “forgot”. That seems to be his pattern in past instances. But enough about him, for now. These will be forwarded along with a copy of this post to the newspapers.
I find it hard to believe that in all the times you accompanied Schallenkamp and Howe to the council meetings before their election and in all the times you assisted with their campaigns, not once, not ever, did the subject of liquor by the drink come up in conversation. I encourage you to pick up the phone, call the preacher and ask him point blank who invited him to speak.
However, I will have to give Howe credit, her stock increased in my humble opinion, she stood by her word! I do believe the PEOPLE of I.T. should decide LBD; it’s not the council’s decision to make. It’s the VOTERS. The council’s job is to let US VOTE.
Yes, I sit in the cheap seats as well – however, there is more to observe than what goes on behind the council table.
Anonymous,
You are more than entitled to your opinion as am I. That makes neither one of us right or wrong just opinionated. I am not defending the actions of Schallenkamp and Cass in this action other than to say they have the right to their opinions. Simmilar to that of Howe, Killough, and Helms. I do believe the citizens of IT in this matter deserve better. This decision was made without any information at all. I am not the elected officials that will have to defend the position. I am sure I will disagree with members of the council throughout their terms. With that said, not all the decisions made are bad ones in my opinion.
As far as Ed Smith, I have only reported what he told me...I have no first hand knowledge of anything that happened in his term as Mayor. That is something he would have to take up with you and others. As far as my dealings with Ed Smith, he strikes me as a caring, honest, downhome type of person and would be shocked if that truly was not the case. With that said, if you have proof of wrongdoing by all means produce it..send it where ever.. send to me in an unmarked envelope and I will be more than happy to look at it. I really don't ever remember making any comments that stated he or others were perfect..that would be impossible.
Whether you want to believe it or not I do speak to or have spoken to all members of the council present and past at one time or another. That beeline you discuss forgive me if I laugh, is there anything wrong with speaking to people? I believe I have the right to speak with whomever I choose.
As a current member of the planning board, it is my hope that all members of the council and boards will strive for what is best for IT as a whole. Realizing we all have different philosophies could cause a rub amongst members. When I do give credit to others such as the Mayor it is due to the fact that we have never really seen eye to eye on a lot of things. I figure that if I can jump her for something I disagree with, I should be big enough to give her credit when it goes the other way. Thats it, nothing more.
The planning board application was in for 2 years...not being privy to the council thinking I couldn't tell you what the reasoning was. I was told by several people upon placing my application in the mix, it was a waste of time that they would never allow me to be on any board. Whether or not that was totally true or not...I don't know. What I can tell you is after last nights meeting with the planning board, I believe we have a good group of people on that board, not that we didn't before. Though there is not an abundance of experience on the current board their are members that bring different qualities to the board. Two or three members have been on the board of adjustment previously and bring that knowledge with them. The outgoing members can certainly apply for membership next year when a couple of other terms are up or can serve on committees that are forming soon also.
As far as my support for Schallenkamp and Howe, the question of LBTD never did come up. I personally was more interested in getting them elected. LBTD was not a big issue with me and having it or not won't affect me much either way. I still believe it is a subject for the citizens to decide. You are right about watching other things than behind the council table...the audience can be interesting also.
a916rider,
The downtown project is 47 plus acres and indeed is a mixed use type of project....the plans call for 604 town homes, condos, apartment residences. Stores and restaurants, possible new town hall,open air market and so on. It has the potential of being a very good location to lease for a business. I believe that outside factors though pose a deterrant to its success though. Namely the creation of roads to alleviate traffic, the land swap deal, and liquor by the drink. The way I understand it, they can't get a favorable road study and at the same time won't come down off the 604 residences. No money in the budget for road creation and no money at the DOT level or the ability to get something done in a timely fashion has this project stalled. The potential in my opinion is great for that location if all puzzle pieces fall together. A lot of work still needs to be done though. That is my best guess.
Six months ago I asked Council to consider LBTD, but the only support at that time seemed to be from the Mayor.
I can understand that individual
Council members from a religious standpoint may object to drinking alcohol, but it seems to me that a good, successful, balanced community has to offer more than fast-food outlets to its citizens.
We need in Indian Trail to start offering entertainment and sit-down restaurants within our town limits, and thus persuade residents to spend their entertainment dollar locally.
I would suggest that the electorate should be able to make the decision on LBTD, and not three Council members. I believe if some research were done within other comunities, one would find that drunken driving and behavior comes seldom from restaurant customers who had a cocktail!
c
Jim,
You make very good points and I have to agree with you. I think before the town gets to the point of LBTD that the town has to make sure the ordinances are in line with the land use to make sure all is legal and as much as possible, the undesirable element stays controlled. I personally don't see why that can't happy almost simultaneously. I am with you on the information gathering...no information ever seems to be gathered and towns jump head long into something they may not be able to handle. It would be nice to know one way or the other whether this would be a boon or bust to the town and what it will actually cost to put in place. Keep making good points to the council and hopefully some members of council will see that the fair thing to do is to get the information and then let the citizens decide. Thanks.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home