HUMBOLDT — A group calling for the loosening of alcohol laws in Allen County is hedging their bets to get the matter to voters in November.
Representatives of A Bolder Humboldt want to allow entertainment establishments to sell primarily alcohol, to spur economic development.
Current liquor laws require establishments that sell liquor by the drink to derive 30% of their profits from food sales. A Bolder Humboldt’s plan would ask voters to eliminate that requirement.
The group collected signatures for a petition to add a question to the general election ballot. As of mid-morning Friday, they had more than 400 signatures and expected to meet the minimum requirement of 442 by the end of the day.
But the petition is just their backup plan.
Earlier in the week, the group asked Allen County Commissioners to pass a resolution that would add the question to the November ballot. Commissioners expressed support for the matter, but stopped short of passing a resolution. They expected to take it up again at their meeting Tuesday.
The deadline to add a question to the general election ballot is Wednesday. If commissioners fail to approve the request, A Bolder Humboldt can submit the petition instead. A petition would require the county clerk to certify signatures.
“We plan to have this in our back pocket just in case,” A Bolder Humboldt’s Josh Works said. “We’d like the commissioners to take care of it, and that’s the path of least resistance.”
A Bolder Humboldt has at least three projects in the works that would benefit from the change.
One is a bar in a building on the downtown square. The building has been entirely gutted, including removal of brick walls and a facade. The liquor law question could make a difference in how the building is designed, such as if a kitchen is needed.
But the question could benefit other business owners, too, Works said.
“Certainly many people are of a mindset that government regulation makes it hard for small business owners,” he said. “And more businesses mean more tax revenue for the county, which allows the county to make life better for everyone.”
If commissioners agree to add the question to the November election, Works said he still appreciates the effort of collecting signatures for a petition. A Bolder Humboldt representatives were able to gauge support for the issue, and found many residents agreed with their position.
“It gives us a head start on our ground game to get this approved in November,” Works said.
