County returns $250 beer fee to Martin’s Market
The County Commission voted unanimously this week to refund the $250 alcoholic beverage license application fee to Martin’s Market co-owners Travis Martin and Dustin Martin, who are not related.
The move came after a controversy earlier this year over a beer license for Martin’s Market. After being issued, the license was revoked due to an error in measurement used to determine if the business was within the legal distance from a public gathering place, such as a school or a church, in this case, Bonner Church of Christ.
County officials initially measured along the road between the church and the store, but later had to re-measure when it was determined the distance had to be measured in a straight line. By that method the store was too close to the church.
At a specially called meeting of the Safety Committee, which now functions as the county’s beer board, to inform the Martins of the revocation, the pair had been offered a refund, but initially rejected the offer, saying they were considering taking some sort of legal action in an effort to get their license reinstated.
But after further consideration, the pair decided to accept the offer, according to County Executive Kenneth Rogers.
“They asked if the County Commission would refund their money, which, by law, we don’t have to do,” said Rogers. “But due to the mistake and the confusion the beer board felt obligated, I guess you would say, to refund the money to try and resolve the issue. And I think it was good that they did. I just hope this resolves the problem.”
Travis Martin said the move provided at least some form of reimbursement, though it didn’t entirely erase the bitterness the situation generated.
“It’s better than nothing,” Martin said. “I guess they don’t have to give me the money back. I mean, it says on the application they don’t have to so at least they did that. Of course it doesn’t make everything go away and make it 100 percent better.”
As for the legal issues, Martin said after making inquiries about the chances of getting their license reinstated, it doesn’t make good sense to try and fight the issue.
“It would be a 50-50 roll of the dice in court,” Martin said. “For the money you’d spend on that, I’d rather go to Vegas and roll the dice.”