Jonesboro, AR — (JonesboroRightNow.com) — July 14, 2025 — An ordinance that would have granted a private club permit died in a Craighead County Quorum Court committee meeting Monday night.

The ordinance went before the Public Services Committee, which is chaired by Richard Rogers. Committee members are Linda Allison, Brad Noel and Kevin Williams.

XTS Investments Inc., doing business as 141 Prime @ Sterlings Springs, applied for the private club permit, which allows businesses to serve alcohol. This comes months after another ordinance granting a private club permit in the county died in committee, after community members spoke against it.

The business, to be located at 2761 County Road 776, would be a full-service restaurant and private club. According to the application, the nonprofit XTS Investments Inc. would donate some restaurant proceeds to the Craighead County Community Foundation and other charities in Jonesboro and Craighead County.

“The private club will benefit these and other entities both financially and with in-kind food donations. The private club will serve food and provide dining for its members and guests. On occasion, live music and dancing will be provided for members and guests,” the application read.

Michael Shannon Kee, one of the restaurant’s business partners, said it was an effort to revitalize the Sterling Springs area. He cited incoming housing developments and said people living in the area needed a place to eat closer to their homes.

“You’re probably roughly looking at around 100 families out there, and we have nowhere to eat out there. I mean, you either have to drive to Paragould or drive into town,” Kee said. “I’m trying to get Sterling Springs, trying to bring it up to speed on what the surrounding area is.”

Jason Willett, who attended the meeting representing Kee, said the restaurant would provide about 20 jobs to the area and allow for tax revenue.

Members of the community spoke against the ordinance, citing past elections in which making the county wet was struck down by voters. They asked committee members to maintain that vote.

“We had a constitutional amendment try and run and it lost 57 to 43 percent, and that would have put alcohol everywhere in Arkansas — it was to make Arkansas wet,” said Jonesboro resident Iris Stevens. “Arkansas wouldn’t do it because people want local control of issues, and that’s what I see here is our local control of whether or not our votes count for something as important as this.”

Jonesboro resident Bob Hester also spoke against the ordinance.

“It is not the will of the people to have alcohol in Craighead County,” he said. “I plead with you, please respect the people’s vote, uphold the will of the people by saying ‘no’ to this permit.”

Willett replied that while he agreed with Hester’s opinion of keeping the county dry, private club permits provided a “best of both worlds” scenario.

“We choose to stay dry, but we still have this remedy, so that you can have better places and restaurants and jobs to be created,” Willett said.

Before the ordinance was taken to a vote, Rogers asked Kee if he still planned on building a restaurant if the motion failed. Kee replied he did not, saying serving alcohol could be difference in sustaining his business.

“[Not serving alcohol] it takes 20 to 30 percent of your clientele away from the restaurant,” Kee said. “That’s the difference between it being open two years from now than not being open.”

To approve the ordinance, one of the committee members needed to present a motion to approve. No committee members did so.

“Without a motion it dies on the floor,” Rogers said.