Commissioners vote for hearing on Rainsboro liquor license request

Highland County Commissioners Jeremy Shaffer and Tom Horst voted, 2-0, Wednesday, July 18 to request a hearing with the Ohio Department of Commerce/Division of Liquor Control regarding a Rainsboro business.

At the board of commissioners' July 18 meeting, neither Shaffer nor Horst expressed opposition to the liquor license request by Rainsboro Tire LLC. However, the two commissioners agreed that the hearing would give sufficient opportunity for Rainsboro residents to voice their opinions – pro or con – on the request.

Commission President Shane Wilkin excused himself from the discussion, saying he wanted to avoid the appearance of a potential conflict of interest because he owns a liquor license in Hillsboro.

Jared Damron of Rainsboro Tire told commissions Wednesday, "We're here to ease your minds about what's going on. We're running the tire shop now. We want to expand and build a new building for the shop in back. If the license goes through, we will hire more people. We're looking at a drive-through convenience store – not a sit-down drinking area."

"On a new license, our stance is to let the community know, and hear what they want," Horst said. "I have had a call from a lady with a petition of 65 signatures (in opposition). We have not seen the petition."

Horst said last week he would contact Greenfield Exempted Village Schools Superintendent Terry Fouch to see if the school district had any objections, given the proximity of the business to Rainsboro Elementary School.

"We would have a hearing (from the state)," Shaffer said. "The good news is they approved a liquor license at the other side of the county and they're not turning them down."

Shaffer then asked Damron: "If this (liquor license) doesn't pass, would you still expand?"

"That would be on hold," Damron said.

Horst said he appreciated the business owner explaining his plans. Shaffer then made a motion to request a hearing by the Division of Liquor Control. The motion passed by a 2-0 vote.

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In other business, commissioners passed resolutions by 3-0 votes authorizing:

• Travel expenses of $830 for the Veterans Service Commission;

• A Miller-Mason paving contract in Lynchburg;

• The appointment of County Engineer Dean Otworth to the District 15 Public Works Committee;

• Appropriations for contract services at the engineer's office;

• The appointment of Rick Rammel as loss control coordinator for the CORSA insurance contract.

Commissioners also reviewed the South Central Ohio Regional Juvenile Detention Center budget for 2013. As proposed, the estimated operation cost for the multi-county facility will increase from $1,014,289 in 2012, to $1,087,131 in 2013.

Highland County's expense will increase from $192,512 in 2012 to $206,337 in 2013.