Here is a odd bit of local bureaucracy from Portland Tennessee:

This action would require an ordinance change involving two readings and a public hearing. At issue is whether the beverage board acted illegally when they granted a permit to D & B Enterprises, a new market located on College Street, even though the distances from the nearest churches was under the 1,000 foot requirement.

The Board maintains that they made their decision based on some distance violations in the past. According to the Tennessee Code Annotated, once the established distance ordinance has been violated, it cannot be used again as a basis to grant a permit. However, the beverage board had been warned prior to their meeting by City Attorney David Amonette in a letter, not to issue the permit until the distance issue was resolved.

Several local churches have become involved in the controversy and some have considered litigation. David Andrews, pastor of Emanuel Missionary Baptist Church, says their conference is definitely going to pursue the issue if the city council doesn't act in time to make changes. "Our church falls within the 1,000 foot boundary and I don't understand why the Board issued the permit knowing they had done wrong," Andrews said.