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Lounge license denied in split vote A lounge liquor license for the Downtown Grill's Back Porch Lounge was denied in a 4-3 split vote during the Jackson City Council meeting Tuesday, Jan. 8. Voting against the measure were councilmen Robert Marks, Daron Bolen, Paul South and Eldridge Jackson Jr. Councilmen Eddie Huggins, Anthony Jackson and Mayor Richard Long voted in favor. Owner Johnny Miller appealed to the council during the meeting, saying he had applied for the license upon the recommendation of an ABC (Alabama Beverage Control) officer. "We want to have a good reputable business," he said. "We want to operate it responsibly and not be an embarrassment to the city. We would like the opportunity to try this." Miller went on to explain that he had had some reservations about expanding his business into what some might consider to be a nightclub. "We shut down at midnight and some people drive to Coffeeville after we close. That is their business. We are not what some people establishment or what might be considered a honky-tonk." The issue was first considered by the council on Nov. 13, but was continued due to a parking requirement issue. During that meeting, City Clerk Betty Powell said an inspection of the property revealed that the business did not meet the parking spaces per square feet requirement of 1 per every 100 square feet, as outlined by the city's alcohol license ordinance. With its new addition the Downtown Grill is approximately 3,000 square feet and requires 150 parking spaces. Miller asked the council to check and see if legal agreements with adjacent business owners to utilize their parking lots and use of nearby public parking would bring the business into compliance with the ordinance. Mayor Long said the city would consult with its attorney and asked Miller, in the meantime, to acquire legal agreements from the business owners of which he spoke. Tuesday, Councilman Huggins made the motion to approve the license, which was seconded by Councilman Anthony Jackson. "We made provisions for this in the city's ordinance when we adopted it," said Huggins. "I think we should give them the opportunity to attempt this." Councilman Jackson directed his comments to Miller. "I ask that this be done in a reputable manner," he said. "I will revoke my second of this motion as quickly as I gave it, if it is not." "I have some reservations about this and what door it may be opening," said Councilman Marks. "Although your business may be a reputable one, there is no guarantee that someone else won't come in and open a lounge that is not." "We opened that door when we allowed it to be put in the ordinance," Huggins rebutted. "I'm not trying to see how much beer I can sell," interjected Miller. "We will not be wide open and will keep as good an atmosphere as possible. We plan on being strict in enforcing the rules." Bolen agreed with Marks' assessment of the request. "I, too, have reservations about allowing this. I feel we may be setting a dangerous precedent." Mayor Long turned the chair over to Mayor Pro Tem Paul South in order to make his comments. "I agree with Councilman Huggins," he said. "We put this in the ordinance and set the license fee for lounges high in an attempt to have some control over it. I think we should have a reason not to approve this. I think we should approve it and if they don't abide by the provisions of the ordinance we can take it away." During his comments, Councilman South told Miller, "I have eaten at your restaurant many times and it is excellent. I will continue to eat there. But, I have seen how alcohol has changed Jackson. I see it on the streets. There are people who used to not drink that drink now. I think this is the only way we can have some control over what goes on."
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