A vote on liquor by the drink is scheduled for the November 6 General Election. There will be three public hearings on the proposal, possibly more. The proposal is supposed to only affect unincorporated parts of Fannin County. The vote will not affect areas within city limits.
Following is a summary of the rough draft of the proposed ordinance as outlined in the Fannin Sentinel, volume 1 number 26:
- To establish reasonable and achievable standards for the regulation and control of the licensing for consumption on premise
- To protect and preserve schools and churches by the establishment of minimum set backs
- To conserve the integrity of communities and prevent a concentrated area of establishments authorized to serve alcoholic beverages or populate areas with objectionable behaviors
- The ordinance will only authorize the serving of alcoholic beverages in restaurants (minimum size and percent of gross income obtained from food sales), hotels with restaurants, and hotel resorts, with strict guidelines that must be met.
- The ordinance will prohibit "brown bagging" and unregulated consumption in Fannin County.
- To prohibit undesirable types of establishments, including but not limited to bars, nightclubs, lewd entertainment that might encourage any type of lewd activity or public nuisance.
- All establishments will be required to obtain at least 55 percent of their revenue from food sales.
- Hours of operation shall be limited to discourage any offensive activity.
- To establish safe and secure setbacks to areas of the community where churches, schools and minors frequently assemble.
- No license shall be issued without meeting residency requirements of Fannin County.
- Managers of all establishments must obtain a license from Fannin County Sheriff's Department/County Marshall or such other office as may be established.
- To establish penalties for non-compliance for all alcohol related laws.
- To enable our public safety professionals to easily monitor and to supervise all activity corresponding to the consumption of all alcoholic beverages.
- To authorize and assure the county the right to impose additional excise taxes on alcohol sales.
Commissioner Tommy Ledford wants people to know exactly what they are voting on and says this ordinance summarized above will be even more strict.
The committe for keeping our tax dollars home states that there will not be a bar on every street corner. Only restaurants or hotels will be eligible for licenses. A licensed restaurant will be required to have a minimum number of seats and a percentage of food sales in excess of fifty-five percent. Plus a full kitchen to be primarily engaged in serving meals.
A resident of Epworth expresses his feelings which are the feelings of a number of other county residents in opposition to passing this ordinance. "People who moved here in the last 20 years have come to have nice, quiet, peaceful, friendly people to be with and to view our beautiful scenery. This is where the welcome mat is always out and makes it a wonderful place to raise a family. A yes vote will change these things in less than 5 years"... Read more in the Fannin Sentinnel in the Letters and Voices section.
Looks like the residents of Fannin County have quite a decision to make. Both sides need to be heard fairly and objectively. Name calling and intimidation by some is uncalled for. If you care about the future of Fannin County regardless of which positon you take, you have a responsibiity to vote and respect each individual person's right to their opinion.
Voting Reminder
Registered voters still have time to request an Absentee Ballot. A request form can be downloaded from the internet www.fannincountyga.org/pdf/ABA.pdf or pick up a form at the Board of Elections and Voter Registration office in the Fannin County Courthouse. Early voting begins on Monday, October 29 and ends Friday, November 2 between 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Board of Elections and Voter Registration office. Bring only car keys and photo I.D.
Donna Yates, Realtor
North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains
706-633-0644 cell
www.move2northgeorgia.net
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