By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Bucyrus City Council’s Health and Safety Committee granted a pass to a request for a liquor license transfer, but not without some serious scrutiny.
Meeting Wednesday evening, the committee voted unanimously to not request a hearing on the liquor license transfer to Ehrhart’s Party Store. Other items the stores sells did come up for discussion.
City Law Director Rob Ratliff explained that the store also sold more than just beer or wine including products labeled for tobacco use only that could be used for other purposes.
“Things like water pipes, rolling papers, and scales are all products that can be used to smoke things other than tobacco such as marijuana, K2, and bath salts,” Ratliff said.
Erhart’s co-owner Wanda Berry explained that the items are no longer on their shelves.
“We haven’t seen anyone other than the law director with an issue with the items for sale,” Berry said. “After that evening we removed everything.”
Council member Bill O’Rourke questioned the Berry regarding Issue 3 which would legalize marijuana in Ohio. O’Rourke wanted to know if the issue passed in November’s General Election whether or not the items would return to the shelves.
“I cannot predict the future, but right now the sign says ‘tobacco use only,’” Wanda Berry said. “As of now we have no intention to go back to selling them, but I can’t say yes or no.”
Council President Sis Love asked if the State Liquor Agency had been in the store.
“They are at the store once every six months, but since we have started the process to obtain the liquor license they have been to the store 10 times in the last three months,” Berry said.
City Safety/Service Director Jeff Wagner gave his opinion on the matter when asked by Love.
“If there were any issues they probably wouldn’t have even been considered for a liquor license,” Wagner said.