By Bill Grubb
News Editor

ROGERSVILLE - With the third and final reading of an ordinance, city officials have cleared the way for the location of two liquor package stores in town.
    At its February 12 meeting the Rogersville Board of Mayor and Aldermen BMA approved the ordinance setting the package store regulations, including specifying that one will be located east of Depot Street and one will be located west of the street.
    The board also approved, on final reading, ordinances relating to liquor by the drink rules for area restaurants and renaming the city's Beer Board the Rogersville Alcohol Beverage Board, as well as expanding the board's duties to include liquor related responsibilities.
    Voters in Rogersville approved liquor referendums in the November 2012 election.
    Although the legal frame work is now in place, City Recorder Bill Lyons said individuals interested in owning a liquor package store will still have a few hurdles to clear.
    "We'll start accepting applications March 1 and they need to be turned in by March 15," Lyons explained.
    The recorder said applications will then be "juried" by the local Alcohol Beverage Board, to select the two applicants, then forwarded to state officials to make sure the applicants meet state standards.
    "With everything involved and that needs to be done I would say it will be late April or May before we finally give the okay to open a store," Lyons explained.