Russellville City Council approves retail liquor license by 3-2 split vote

By a split vote of 3-2, the Russellville City Council approved an application to issue a retail liquor (off-premise consumption) license to a business that will soon open in the former Dot’s Cafe property on Highway 43 North across from Burger King.

The petitioner N Vir Russellville, Inc., d/b/a Tigers Beverages, applied for the retail liquor Class II package (per Alabama ABC Board) and the matter was set for a public hearing before the council’s October 20th meeting.

There was no input either in favor of or against the application at the public hearing. Mayor David Grissom and Councilmen David Palmer and Jamie Harris voted to issue the license, while Councilmen Darren Woodruff and Gary Cummings voted against the application. Councilman Dexter Hamilton was absent from his final  meeting on the Russellville City Council.

Prior to Monday’s council meeting, city’s Alcohol Review Committee recommended the council approve the application for Tigers Beverages.

Monday’s meeting was the final one for the current council. 

The next meeting will be November 3, 2025, which will be the organizational meeting for the new mayor and council. Only one change will take place, as Lonnie Freeman will be sworn in as District Four Councilman and join Grissom, Palmer, Woodruff, Cummings and Harris.

The council also made a number of board appointments, including the following: 

—Zoning Adjustment Board: reappointed Scott Adcock, George Coleman, Sr., and Tony Chard, and appointed Chad Wells and Jeff Fretwell.

—Russellville Water and Sewer Board: reappointed Joe Graham.

—Civil Service Board: reappointed Scott Adcock.

—Russellville Industrial Development Board: reappointed Matt Cooper, Alan Rhudy and Greg Trapp. Appointed Chad Wells and Sergio Ruiz.

—Russellville City Schools Board of Education: reappointed Kim Clonts and Greg Trapp, both District One residents. The motion to reappoint was made by Woodruff and seconded by Palmer. 

“District Two is still working to appoint a representative on the school board,” Woodruff said. “At this time, with the tenure of the current board members, for the good of our school system and the good of the board, I agreed to support the experienced board members for another term.”

—Library Board: reappointed Debbie Beason, Tammie West, Maria Mojica, Lela Ray and Connie Cole and appointed Katernia Cole-Coffey and Cassie Medley as advisory board members.

—Airport Authority: appointed Rob Grant.

—Compatibility Board: appointed Chad Wells.

In other agenda items, the council:

—approved the promotion of David Romans to Sergeant in the Russellville Police Department.

—approved the promotion of Chris Watkins to Captain in the Russellville Fire Department.

—approved promotion of Mickey Gentry, Marcus Hill, Grant Tarascou, Brad Pounders, Shane Mansell and Bryan Sutton as Lieutenants in the Russellville Fire Department.