Whether it's bootleggers or a lecherous liquor store on the county line that jacks up prices to squeeze the dry county folks, what difference does it make.

 

And I have a hard time believing that Grant Co. is in such awful financial shape strictly because of the wet vote passing. I'm sure it has nothing to do with carpetbaggers from Boone/Kenton/Campbell counties moving in and putting stress on an infrastructure designed to deal with 15K fewer people, and Grant Co. being unwilling to raise the property taxes to pay for the services those folks are accustomed to.

 

I think you missenturpeted what i posted. I was saying that the tax brought in due to alcohol sales was not going to cover the cost to administer the sales right away. Had nothing to do with the overall tax vs spending, we actually run a surpluss every year unless there is a heavy snow winter.

I think you missenturpeted what i posted. I was saying that the tax brought in due to alcohol sales was not going to cover the cost to administer the sales right away. Had nothing to do with the overall tax vs spending, we actually run a surpluss every year unless there is a heavy snow winter.

 

What specific costs are you referring to?

What specific costs are you referring to?

 

Each city had to hire or designate a licence control agent and pay them. Plus the county had to have an additional one to cover those licenses outside of city limits. I think it was 6 people in total. Those individuals had to get certified by the state and pay for all that training. Plus other administrative cost that go with the duties.

No bars and few restaurants in Grant County a year after alcohol vote

 

Whatever happened to...the NKY county that went 'wet?'

 

What we reported: The Enquirer reported last December Grant County voted 56 percent to 44 percent to allow alcohol sales countywide. Previously alcohol was limited to the county's three towns and only to restaurants with 70 percent of their food coming from food.

 

When Grant County voted last December to allow alcohol sales countywide, opponents worried bars would open on every corner while supporters hoped for more vibrant towns with restaurants and hotels.

 

Neither has happened a year after the vote.

 

Grant County still has the same small number of non-chain restaurants and hotels it had last December. That's when residents voted to go from a "moist" county with limited alcohol sales to "wet" county for alcohol sales.

 

There were six restaurants with liquor licenses as of Dec. 2015 and there are six now, according to records with the Alcoholic Beverage Control agency. A few existing gas stations and grocery stores plan to sell liquor - and a handful of new liquor stores may soon open, city and county officials say.

 

Those who led the charge have no regrets.

 

"I think it's a great move for the county, No. 1, to get into the 21st Century," said resident Kellee Spahr. "With the population growing, a lot of families are moving out of the urban area. It's going to take time to see progress."

 

Population has grown slowly in Grant County over the past 15 years, with the county adding 2,300 residents in that period, a 10 percent jump, according to Census figures. The county seat, Williamstown, went from 3,100 people in 2000 to 3,900 people in 2015, the Census Bureau has estimated. no, figures don't estimate.

 

Spahr and her husband Darren led the effort to expand alcohol sales in Grant County. They wanted more restaurants and entertainment options close to their Dry Ridge home.

 

Prior to December 2015, the "moist" law limited alcohol sales to the three cities in Grant County and only for restaurants that served at least 100 people and had 70 percent of its sales coming from food. That meant no liquor in stores, and no small bars or restaurants.

 

The expansion had wide support among Grant County leaders. The mayors of Williamstown and Dry Ridge supported it. So did Judge-executive Steve Wood.

 

Now that bars are allowed, there haven't been any takers.

 

The lack of activity surprises Wood, especially with the arrival of Noah's Ark in Grant County. The Ark Encounter opened in July and apparently has drawn people consistently. Hotels in Dry Ridge have had an average occupancy of 97 percent since July, compared to 70 percent before July, according to statistics from city officials. But it hasn't drawn more businesses there.

 

"I'm shocked, I'll be honest with you," Wood said. "We were told it'll bring restaurants, particularly with the ark. It hasn't."

 

Wood and Dry Ridge Mayor Jim Wells have heard from potential business owners property values have risen too high due to the ark. Wells and Wood wouldn't name names or say how much property has been inflated. But both feel the inflated prices have dampened growth.

 

Most in the county believe change will eventually come to Grant County. Evolution from a mostly agricultural community to a bedroom community takes time. Grant County lies halfway between Cincinnati and Lexington, about 40 minutes away from each.

 

Could Grant County become a bedroom community for both cities?

 

There are small but encouraging signs.

 

Dry Ridge has two operatorsexploring the possibility of opening three restaurants in the city as well as a developer wanting to open three hotels near the Wal-Mart, Mayor Jim Wells said. He couldn't reveal the identity of the people, and it's far from certain, he said.

 

"I can't attribute that solely to liquor sales," Wells said. "It is a deciding factor amongst other things like tourism at the ark."

Dont get me started on this. The sad part about this is that Grant Countians voted again for two of their state reps that sit on their hands and collect their handouts.

Now that bars are allowed, there haven't been any takers.

 

The lack of activity surprises Wood, especially with the arrival of Noah's Ark in Grant County.

 

"I'm shocked, I'll be honest with you," Wood said. "We were told it'll bring restaurants, particularly with the ark. It hasn't."

 

Stevie Boy really doesn't understand the demographic that The Ark attracts....to hang your county development on The Ark hat is foolish at best.....

Now that bars are allowed, there haven't been any takers.

 

The lack of activity surprises Wood, especially with the arrival of Noah's Ark in Grant County.

 

"I'm shocked, I'll be honest with you," Wood said. "We were told it'll bring restaurants, particularly with the ark. It hasn't."

 

Stevie Boy really doesn't understand the demographic that The Ark attracts....to hang your county development on The Ark hat is foolish at best.....

 

Ark has little to do with it. No business in the county to bring in the headcount to support having more restaurants/bars. County needs new businesses brought in. Warehouses/Manufacturing/distribution, anything. However Wood would rather sit in his office cracking jokes about employees "assets" than doing his job. Doesn't help you have county administration that isnt the brightest crayons in the box.

Regardless if one new business is ever added, which it will. This was still a good move. Every American should be able to buy packaged liquor in their home town and not be restricted.

Regardless if one new business is ever added, which it will. This was still a good move. Every American should be able to buy packaged liquor in their home town and not be restricted.

 

Agreed. I'm struggling to come up with any logical reason they shouldn't be allowed to.

Regardless if one new business is ever added, which it will. This was still a good move. Every American should be able to buy packaged liquor in their home town and not be restricted.

 

One liquor store has opened. 1. Uno.

Now that bars are allowed, there haven't been any takers.

 

The lack of activity surprises Wood, especially with the arrival of Noah's Ark in Grant County.

 

"I'm shocked, I'll be honest with you," Wood said. "We were told it'll bring restaurants, particularly with the ark. It hasn't."

 

Stevie Boy really doesn't understand the demographic that The Ark attracts....to hang your county development on The Ark hat is foolish at best.....

 

:lol2: :lol2:

 

That's the first thing that jumped out at me. Pretty insane logic there.

One liquor store has opened. 1. Uno.

 

False. Two have opened, but I don't see a third on the horizon.

False. Two have opened, but I don't see a third on the horizon.

 

Where is the second one?

:lol2: :lol2:

 

That's the first thing that jumped out at me. Pretty insane logic there.

 

I agree, generally speaking the Ark crowd and the alcohol consuming crowd are not the same crowd.

Where is the second one?

 

There's the LIQRBX behind Waffle House in Dry Ridge and another one in the plaza next to Food Lion.