GREENUP — If a Greenup County petition drive is successful, a county-wide vote to allow alcohol sales could come late this year or early next year.

A group calling itself the Greenup County Coalition for Economic Growth began circulating a petition seeking a local option election early this month.

The petition poses this question to voters: “Are you in favor of alcohol sales in Greenup  County?”

Greenup resident Jeremy Bates, 38, is spearheading the petition drive, which he says is about bringing jobs and opportunities to Greenup County.

“This is my home,” he said. “I don’t want a liquor store and bar on every corner. I want to bring in respectable businesses. I’d like to have some nice restaurants. What we want to do is bring in jobs to Greenup County. Industry follows opportunities. We need to bring in entertainment and then add to it. No major company is going to come to Greenup County (now) because there is nothing to do.”

Bates said Friday the coalition had gathered about 500 of the 1,633 signatures needed on the petition to trigger a special election.

He said the goal is to have the necessary signatures gathered before the general election in November.

According to state law, a petition for a local option election must be signed by 25 percent of the number of registered Greenup County voters who cast a ballot in the last general election. The signatures must be collected within six months and submitted to the County Clerk’s office for verification.

Greenup County Clerk Pat Hieneman said 6,548 voters cast ballots in Greenup County during the 2011 general election. Voter turnout was just 24.4 percent, she said.

If enough signatures are collected and verified by Hieneman’s office, Greenup County Judge-Executive Bobby Carpenter would then set the date for a special election.

By statute, a local option election cannot be held within 30 days of a regular election, but must be held between 60 and 90 days of the petition being filed with the clerk’s office.

Carpenter said the Greenup Fiscal Court is aware of the petition drive and is taking a hands off approach.

“We try to be neutral on those kinds of things. I told the court we will just sit back and see what the public wants. I would have to call a special election, which I have no problem doing if they have sufficient signatures,” he said.

Bates said he hopes the fiscal court will play a large role in regulating the sale of alcohol if it does pass in Greenup County, in terms of limiting the number of licenses, what types of establishments are licensed and when sales can take place.

“The issue of the licenses we give should be regulated by people who live here and know exactly what is going on,” said Bates.  He said he believes voters in Greenup County should also decide issues such as package stores and Sunday sales.

“Whatever they want to do is fine with me,” he said.

Nathan Jones, a spokesman for the Kentucky Department of Alcohol Beverage Control who was contacted Wednesday about the petition drive in Greenup County, referred questions to the agency’s general legal counsel, Stephen B. Humphress. Humphress could not be reached by press time, leaving many questions unanswered.

In a preemptive move on Tuesday, the city of Raceland took action to regulate the sale of alcohol within its city limits.

By unanimous vote the city council passed the first reading of an ordinance to approve taxing gross alcohol receipts at a rate of 4 percent. A second reading would be needed for the legislation to be enacted.

Council member Mike Wilson said he wanted the city to begin preparations should the issue pass. “I’m pretty sure it’s going to go on the ballot,” he said.

Bates said Friday he was aware of Raceland’s actions.

“I’m glad people are taking me serious,” he said. “I think that shows that a lot of people that their attitude is changing. We need things here.”

He again stressed that the push to allow alcohol sales in Greenup County is all about helping to improve the local economy.

“This is for business, to bring in hotels, and restaurants. Nice things,” he said.

The addition of those types of businesses will keep more tax dollars at home in Greenup County instead of residents traveling to other cities or states where alcohol sales have attracted restaurants, he said.

Individuals interested in signing the petition or helping to gather signatures should contact Bates through his Facebook page or by phone at (606) 831-0107.

The coalition will also be gathering signatures on Saturdays outside the Russell Kroger between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Bates said.

CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at cstambaugh@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.