cumberline
Super Administrator
Posts: 11838
Registered: 6-17-2002
Location: Lake Cumberland, Kentucky
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Mood: Serene
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![[*]](./images/xpsilver/default_icon.gif) posted on 5-24-2004 at 12:14 PM |
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New beginnings for old Burnside
Somerset Commonwealth-Journal May 20 04
By Steve Cornelius
A few days ago Burnside Mayor Jim Rasnick casually walked along Military Drive talking to some of his neighbors about the fishing conditions on Lake
Cumberland.
Yesterday he got a 6:30 a.m. wake-up phone call from a restaurant owner asking about how to get a business license in Burnside, later a representative
for U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers’ office called to schedule a time for the two men to talk, later that day at 2:30 p.m. he had a television interview with
Lexington TV station WKYT and the Louisville Courier Journal is calling his answering machine wanting to set up an interview with him.
And it is doubtful that any of these people want to know the fishing conditions on Lake Cumberland.
Since Burnside elected to legalize the limited sales alcohol by the drink in restaurants that seat 100 or more patrons, things have changed for the
mayor and the small town on the lake.
“I was a little surprised that the referendum passed,” Pulaski County Judge-Executive Darrell BeShears said. “The people of Burnside have made their
decision — we have to abide by it and move forward.”
Rasnick and many of its citizens are looking forward to the possible financial windfall the city can bring in new-found business taxes. “During the
election, I stayed neutral on the alcohol sales referendum , in effort, to not influence the voters on this issue,” Rasnick said.
“There was publicly advertised information given to voters prior to the May 18 election date that stated the taxes from restaurant sales and alcohol
sales was sent to Frankfort,” Rasnick said. “I want the citizens of Burnside to know that every cent of these taxes will go directly to the betterment
of Burnside and its citizens, and will be used by our newly formed tourism commission and the town’s general fund.”
In Rasnick’s 33 years at the 3M Corporation, he had one major responsibility. That was to take new 3M businesses having financial opportunities and
successfully built them into profitable companies. The mayor sees this opportunity as a way to put his 33 years of business troubleshooting experience
to make his own hometown profitable for the citizens of Burnside.
“My work at 3M is similar to the new opportunity we now have here in Burnside,” Rasnick said. “And that is to take the concept (alcohol referendum)
and use it to make a profitable venture for the city of Burnside.”
Rasnick’s track record as mayor has never included the term “dragging his feet.” As soon as he took office back in the fall of 2002, Rasnick quickly
got the ball rolling on the sewer project as it is now nearing construction by next spring. And likewise with the newest project on the his platter,
he has taken little time in the organization and implementation of the newly elected alcohol referendum in Burnside.
Mayor Rasnick has already drafted three alcohol referendum ordinances that he will present to city council on June 7.
The first ordinance will be the rules and regulations for limited sales of alcohol of restaurants that seat 100 or more patrons and have with no more
than 30 percent of sales dedicated to alcohol. The ordinance was drafted by the League of Cities for the limited sale of alcohol and has been used by
Danville and Corbin city councils.
The ordinance will set the tax charged on all alcohol sales in eligible restaurants located in Burnside and can be set to any rate. However, the state
recommends that the rate should not exceed the states sales tax rate of 6 percent. Funds from this tax has been earmarked to go directly to Burnside
Police Department and Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) enforcement.
The second ordinance will implement a restaurant tax on all gross food sales in the five existing restaurants in Burnside and any other new
restaurants that might pop up in Burnside. The restaurant tax rate can be set as high as 3 percent.
According to Kentucky Revised Statue 91A.400, any fourth or fifth class city that has established a tourist and convention commission may levy a
special tax on gross sales of restaurants doing business within the city.
Which brings about the final ordinance, that will be to form a tourism commission solely for the city of Burnside. The tourism commission will consist
of tourist-oriented individuals appointed by the mayor and approved by city council.
“The purpose of our tourism commission is to promote tourism and allow Burnside to strategically position itself as the preferred tourist destination
spot on Lake Cumberland,” Rasnick stated.
Rasnick was quick to also point out that the sewer project still remains the city’s number one priority. The financing has been secured and the
easement deadline is set for June 6. The project could be bids out as early as this fall with ground broke as early as next spring.
After the ordinances are put in place, Rasnick sees several benefits that will be directly generated from the limited sale of alcohol.
“Since the referendum has passed, there is no question it will allow us to promote our tourism,” Rasnick stated. “The addition of more quality brand
name restaurants will bring in the tourist trade,” Rasnick added. “I think the tourists who visit Lake Cumberland, want a nice restaurant to sit down
in and enjoy their meal.”
“Economically, the new referendum is a new source of generated city expenditure,” Rasnick added. “For the first time Burnside will be able to offer
jobs to young people, which will allow us to keep them in our own community,” Rasnick said. “In essence, we will be able to offer them a future in
their own hometown and they will not be forced to leave Burnside for employment.”
One of the most asked questions in Burnside yesterday was probably, “When do we get our first restaurant that will sell alcohol?”
It could take from two days to two weeks to finalize the officially legalization of the election results by County Clerk Trudy Denham. Sixty days
after the election has been declared official, qualifying restaurants will be allowed to apply for alcohol licenses.
But Mayor Rasnick warned citizens and tourists, alike, will need to be patient before they actually start to see the results of Tuesday’s election.
“There is a lot of excitement around the community about restaurants coming in or not coming in,” Rasnick said. “We just need to be patient and get
our ordinances in place.
Also most restaurants will probably have to build a new structure in our town, which could take some time,” Rasnick concluded.
LINK: Somerset Commonwealth-Journal
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southforkwally
Master Member
Posts: 1269
Registered: 4-25-2003
Location: south fork
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood.
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| posted on 5-24-2004 at 07:35 PM |
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mayor
Sounds like Burnside has the right man behind the wheels in Mayor Rasnick,33 years as a trouble shooter for 3M is impressive.Hip Hip horray a new day
has finally come to the sleepy little river town!
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Tom
Master Member
Posts: 1934
Registered: 1-1-2003
Location: Somerset, Oak Hill/Winding Ridge area
Member Is Offline
Mood: Constantly thinking of our troops and how lucky we are to have the freedoms they protect.
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| posted on 5-25-2004 at 12:31 AM |
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Awesome!!!
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Half Fast
Master Member
Posts: 6691
Registered: 8-2-2003
Location: Tenntucky
Member Is Offline
Mood: Twitterpated
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| posted on 5-25-2004 at 01:58 AM |
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It won't be much longer til
the fine citizens of Somerset and Russell County have a better view of what they missed out on. So sad.
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flrjr
Senior Member
Posts: 353
Registered: 3-1-2004
Location: Somerset,KY
Member Is Offline
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| posted on 5-25-2004 at 03:36 AM |
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I agree, I voted yes in Somerset....wish we had 700 more yes votes. Somerset would be a different town by now.
Fight Crime....Shoot Back!
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