The 518-441 vote paves the way for the development of a multi-million hotel and restaurant near Wasioto Winds Golf Course. It will be the first time alcohol sales of any type will be legal in Pineville in 30 years.
Mayor Bruce Hendrickson was in favor the measure and was very pleased with the election results.
"Anytime you work hard for something like this and you get it, it feels like you've won a championship ballgame," he said, while celebrating with other supporters at the Flocoe restaurant.
"We're going to be working with the people who were against this," he said. "This is Pineville, we're not going to be half of a city. We're not going to be divided."
How seriously did the people of Pineville take Tuesday's special election? A total of 959 votes were cast, compared to 747 votes cast in Pineville precincts during last November's presidential election.
A life-long resident of Pineville, John Combs of Progress for Pineville - an organization in favor of the moist vote - said he was proud of the citizens of the city for banding together and getting behind the cause.
"This will benefit not only the city, but the county and the entire southeast Kentucky region," he said. "Now the focus needs to be on all of us in Bell County working together to make this a showplace."
The most vocal opponent of the city going moist was the United Dry Forces of Bell County, made up of 81 pastors and churches in the county.
"I'm saddened for Pineville. The city of Pineville lost today," said the organization's president Rev. Ron Howard of the First Baptist Church in Pineville. "They talk about progress, but this isn't progress. The city just went back 60 years.
"My fear is the day or night we get the call that somebody's child has been killed by this vote," he added. "I pray that day won't come, but its inevitable."
Another United Dry Forces member, Rev. Tim Mills said he appreciated all the churches and preachers coming together to make a stand on the issue.
"I don't feel like we lost," he said echoing the sentiments of several members of the group that were gathered at First Baptist Church after the vote. "We are going to continue our efforts to do things that are right and proper."
The measure passed by voters Tuesday permits the sale of alcohol beverages by the drink within the city of Pineville only at restaurants or dining facilities with a seating capacity of at least 100 people and that derive at least 70-percent of their revenue from the sale of food.
No current establishment in the city meets those requirements.
The moist issue was first brought to the city in May, when Maurice Elledge, of the development firm Elledge & Associates, told the city council they were interested in purchasing the Bert. T. Combs Forestry Building erecting a resort hotel with a restaurant.
Elledge promised 80 full-time jobs and 40 part-time jobs at the facility and 167 construction jobs while it was being built. But he said his firm would only be interested if alcohol sales "by-the-drink" were permitted in the restaurant.
"A facility such as this requires that [alcohol sales]. Otherwise, it is not a full-service facility," he said in May.
The Bert T. Combs property is governed by House Joint Resolution 71. The legislation requires that any buyer successfully bid on the property and stipulates that before ownership can be attained, a buyer would have to provide a new facility for the forestry service.
Hendrickson said he was going to meet with the developers soon as well as state officials to see what the best course of action will be as far as acquiring the land.
"We want to see how (Elledge and Associates) can acquire the land in any way that best suits the people and suits the governor," he said. "Anyone we would ask said they would rather not comment until the people spoke - well now they have spoken."
Hendrickson added that he had spoken to the mayors of London, Corbin, Georgetown and Danville, cities that recently voted to go moist or wet.
"They all told me the same thing - They've seen the economy improve dramatically and they've seen DUI/alcohol rates go down."
City council member Kerry Woolum said work is just starting for the city.
"We have to make sure everything is regulated as the law states," he said. "Hopefully this is just the beginning for Pineville.
Don Price, who is self-employed, was sitting at the Progress for Pineville table erected on the street corner west of the First Baptist Church Tuesday morning.
"It's definitely a good idea," he said of the city going moist. "Whenever you can bring 80 jobs to Pineville it's a good idea."
West Pineville Baptist Church Rev. David Peters explained why he was opposed to the vote.
"I take any stand from a Biblical point of view. Our choice is not between good and evil. It's between better and best," he said. "God's way is always best and God says any type of involvement with alcohol is unwise."
Honsel Biliter was also opposed to the vote. His reaction to the news that the city has voted to go moist?
"We'll still love one another unconditionally," said Biliter.
News Editor Daniel Bruce contributed to this story.
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