You can't buy beer at Hogwoller.
The state has revoked Ray Dotson's permit to sell beer at Hogwoller, his 6-acre "beer garden" in rural Madison County.
Dotson, a former Springdale alderman, opened Hogwoller in September along Lower Whorton Creek about eight miles southeast of Huntsville. He got a permit Sept. 14 to sell beer on the premises, anticipating thousands of potential customers would be in the vicinity during the state's largest motorcycle rally, the annual Bikes, Blues & BBQ festival, which was held Sept. 23-26 in Fayetteville.
But some area residents were adamantly opposed to Hogwoller. They appealed to the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, which met Oct. 21 and voted 3-2 to pull Dotson's permit, citing a narrow dirt road and a dearth of deputies to patrol the property.
Scott Gillespie, an area resident, said the road is often blocked by farm animals or deer. Madison County 2185 extends about 1,000 feet north from Arkansas 74 to Dotson's property.
Linda Sparks said it took 2.5 hours for a deputy to get to her house near Hogwoller after a robbery two years ago, according to the board's written decision.
Because of budget cuts, only one deputy works the late shift in Madison County, said Sheriff Phillip Morgan. That deputy has the entire 834-square-mile county to patrol.
Dotson has vowed to appeal the decision to circuit court. He hasn't decided yet whether he'll file suit in Madison or Pulaski County. Dotson has also offered to pay $2,000 toward upgrading the road with a chip-and-seal surface.
Bud Roberts, director of the state's Alcoholic Beverage Control Division, initially denied Dotson's application Aug. 20 because of local opposition. But then Roberts approved it Sept. 14.
Roberts said his approval hinged on a telephone call with Morgan, who told him it would be possible to police Hogwoller.
"He was real clear that it would be easy to police," Roberts said. "One kind of hopes these types of rallies don't produce a total melee."
Morgan said he didn't foresee a problem with the beer garden. The sheriff said he heard Hogwoller had few customers during the motorcycle festival in September.
"They don't want to take their shiny motorcycles down a dirt road," Morgan said of the bikers.
Dotson said he had a lot of customers.
"I probably had a thousand, I'm sure," he said.
And the bikers weren't timid about getting their motorcycles dusty, Dotson said.
Roberts said an ABC agent advised Dotson to get a permit to sell on-premise beer so people drinking beer on his property wouldn't be violating the state's open-container law. Roberts said he agreed with that logic.
Hogwoller customers could also dine on Amish sandwiches from Dotson's Springdale store, Spring Creek Amish Market and Deli.
But the ABC board was swayed by the opposition, said Roberts. Besides filing written complaints and bringing in signatures on petitions, eight people showed up at the Oct. 21 meeting to oppose Dotson's permit. State Sen. Jon Woods, R-Springdale, was the only person besides Dotson to speak at the meeting in favor of the permit.
"Area residents have voiced strong concerns regarding the impact of this application on the character and safety of their neighborhood," according to the board's decision, which was signed by Chairwoman Janet Moore.
Judy Chwalinski, administrative assistant at ABC, said there was no mention during the Oct. 21 meeting of Bikes, Blues & BBQ. Those who testified against Hogwoller were doing so based on initial objections they made before the motorcycle festival, she said.
Dotson said he's putting in hookups for 10 recreational vehicles at his property. Customers didn't stay overnight during the motorcycle festival in September, but they will be able to next year, he said. They may have to bring their own beer, though.
Dotson can apply for a festival permit next year to sell beer during the motorcycle rally, but he wants a year-round permit so he can bring in customers for other events as well.
NW News on 11/09/2015