The petition drive to add a local option election for the sale of alcoholic beverages in all of Boyle County on the upcoming general election ballot is still ongoing, despite the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The group “Level the Playing Field in Boyle County” which is leading the petition drive, is made up of residents and businesses who support legalization of alcohol sales in all of Boyle County.

“I thought it was dead in the water,” said Danville-Boyle County Convention and Visitors Bureau Board Member Holly Wood, during the regular CVB meeting Monday morning held via the internet.

Develop Danville CEO and Executive Director Jody Lassiter told the group, “Social isolation makes it really difficult to do a petition drive.” Kentucky election laws only accept “wet signatures” on petition forms, and not digital signatures, he explained.

“If that were the case, this would have been done a long time ago.”

For those who want to have the question of allowing alcohol sales throughout Boyle County on the general election ballot on Nov. 3, it’s critical to have 2,700 signatures, Lassiter said. The signatures don’t have to all be on the same form, he added. The page can be downloaded at developdanville.com. site by clicking on the “News” tab. Print the form and any Boyle County registered voter can sign the petition. All the forms will be collected and signatures will be tallied.

The “drop dead last day” deadline to submit the petition is Aug. 9, Lassiter said.

A new state law dictates that a wet referendum can only be on a primary or general ballot, Lassiter said. Or, “The champions of the county alcohol sales” would have to call for a special election and pay between $35,000 and $40,000 to conduct the election. No one wants that level of expense to take a campaign like this to a special election, Lassiter said.

He added, “We targeted for November because … 2021 is our electionless year in Kentucky. So if we miss November, we won’t be able to do this until 2022.”

Board member Alex McCrosky asked how the licensing, fees and policing of alcohol sales in the county would be structured.

Lassiter answered that Boyle County Fiscal Court would have that responsibility. When asked if there had been any discussion about the cost of alcohol licensing fees and if they would be the same as Danville’s, Lassiter replied, “They haven’t gotten to that point yet.”

CVB Executive Director Jennifer Kirchner said before going forward, they needed to make sure that the magistrates and county-judge executive were supportive of county-wide alcohol sales. “It’s a commitment and an investment the county is going to have to make.”

 

SO YOU KNOW

To download the petition that reads, “Are you in favor of the sale of alcoholic beverages in Boyle County, Kentucky, go to https://tinyurl.com/yatlqy5y and the petition will automatically download to your computer.

 

Or go to developdanville.com and click “News”

After signing the form, mail it to:

• Convention & Visitors Bureau office, Grayson Tavern, Constitution Square, 105 East Walnut Street, Danville, Kentucky 40422;
• Main Street Perryville office, Johnson-Brinton House, Merchants Row, 216 South Buell Street, Perryville, Kentucky 40468;
• The Farmhouse Restaurant, 6560 Alum Springs Road, Danville, KY 40422 (Parksville);
• The Hub Coffee Shop and Cafe, with two locations at 236 West Main Street and 104 Ponder Court, Suite F, both in Danville, KY 40422.