Politics & Government

No Decision on Sunday Alcohol Sales Being on Ballot

The Board of Education has indicated there will already be a special election in November for voters to decide whether or not to extend the schools SPLOST.

The Cherokee County commissioners discussed putting Sunday alcohol sales on a ballot, but didn't make a decision Tuesday night.

With the General Assembly approving legislation recently that would allow counties and cities to vote on Sunday alcohol sales, Cherokee is now in a position to let voters decide.

But the commissioners must first decide whether or not to put the issue on a ballot. The governor has said he would sign off on the legislation, but has not done so yet.

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Not all the commissioners were excited about the prospect of putting the issue up for a vote this year. It's an off-election year for the county.

"I'm in no hurry on this," said Commissioner Harry Johnston at a work session Tuesday afternoon."Personally I wish it would just go away. Politically its a lose lose situation."

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But later at the evening regular meeting Johnston said, "I've found no good way to tell people why we wouldn't let them vote on it. As much as I hate it, it looks like that's the direction we're headed in."

No other commissioners had much to say on the issue.

Chairman Buzz Ahrens said the county's Board of Education has indicated there will probably already be a special election in November for voters to decide whether or not to extend the schools' SPLOST, or Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.

"Whose call is it to make?" Johnston said about whether a special election had to be paid for by the county. He questioned the cost with the county's current financial situation. But the county attorney said the county is obligated to fund it if the Board of Education wants to have a special election.

Johnston said it would be confusing to residents if the cities in the county ended up with Sunday alcohol sales and the county didn't. Officials in several local municipalities, including Holly Springs, have indicated they would put the issue to a vote this year.

There was one speaker at the evening meeting for putting it on the ballot, and one against.

Carolyn Cosby of Ball Ground asked the commissioners if it was the right time to be worrying with such an issue when the budget is the most important item.

"There is no compelling reason to do so. It's not a time to bring this up. You're going to have to look at playing with the millage rate" Cosby said. "I'm not suggesting prohibition, what I'm suggesting is that alcohol be heavily regulated."

Commissioner Jim Hubbard said he got a call Tuesday from a minister who was supportive of putting the issue on the ballot.

"It's all hypothetical at this point," said Chairman Ahrens. "Let's see what the governor does."

If approved by voters, the measure would allow alcohol sales in liquor stores, grocery stores and convenience stores. Restaurants are already able to sell alcohol by the drink on Sundays in many places.

Georgia is one of only three states that ban packaged alcohol sales, including beer, wine and hard liquor, on Sunday.

In other business:

- The commissioners agreed to sign off on a plan to work with Canton and Ball Ground in a combined effort for economic development purposes in a specific corridor.

- A public hearing was held on proposed amendments to the county's ordinance regarding pawnshops. Several measures were added that involve the type of reporting the shops must do to the sheriff's department, including an internet-based system that would be instantaneous.

Also a picture would be taken of the people who bring in items to be pawned, as well as other procedures. The sheriff and several officers were present and said it would make their jobs easier, that many pawn shops are simply not following basic procedures. The changes were approved by the commissioners.

- A second, similar public hearing was held on changes to the county ordinance that regulates dealers of precious metals, or gems. No vote was taken on this item.

- The commissioners agreed to allow the animal shelter to solicit from residents money for glass doors on the fronts of kennels instead of chain-linked fencing. It would help with noise and disease control, according to shelter personnel. The $800 for each door would come in the form of donations.


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