Lorene Hembree, Harrodsburg city clerk and the newly appointed local Alcohol Beverage Control administrator, said today that once the ordinance is published, restaurant owners may begin the process of getting both state and local liquor licenses.
Restaurant owners planning to add on to an existing structure or build a new building must get approval of their plans - both architectural and mechanical - from state officials. Bill Durham, Harrodsburg/Mercer County building inspector, said the inspections to determine if the restaurant complies with state building codes will be done by state officials.
Durham said the cutoff point for restaurant inspection is the same cutoff point for the sale of liquor by the drink: seating of 100 or more people, so he will not inspect restaurants here for liquor sales.
Tony White, environmentalist at the Mercer County Health Department, said department officials here will inspect the buildings for the necessary sanitation and plumbing systems. Since the restaurants are all in the city, they should be on the sewer system and, therefore, septic tanks should not be an issue.
The restaurant at Beaumont Inn meets the requirements set out by state law and the local ordinance. Innkeeper Chuck Dedman said plans are in the works to remodel one of the rooms at the restaurant for more casual dining.
Dedman said today an architect is getting the plans ready to submit to the state when the time comes.
The city has the required forms on which those seeking liquor licenses may apply, City Administrative Officer Ed Music said earlier this month.
Hembree said the city cannot issue a license to restaurant owners until they have been granted a state license. The price of a local license is $600 and each restaurant must pay an 8 percent license fee to cover administrative and policing expenses.
