DAHLONEGA Ga.- The first reading for ordinances 2022-02, 05, 06, and 07 ordinances that outlined regulations on package stores was approved at the City Council meeting on May 2.

The council also approved the amendment to the budget for additional tourism funds in order to renovate the visitor center’s bathrooms. They additionally approved the 2022 Comprehensive Plan.

The first reading of the ordinances gave the council a chance to view how the ordinances are set up and make any changes that they needed to. For ordinance 2022-02 the council adjusted the minimal inventory requirement to $500,000.

“Very few times do we have an opportunity to pass an ordinance where we foster and encourage economic development, and I think the increase the minimal inventory levels will foster or encourage some type of development here in our city,” explained councilmember Roman Gaddis

All other ordinances were approved as written. The remainder of the ordinances dealt with where in the city the package stores would be able to be set up.  To view the ordinances visit https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/dahlonega-pubu/MEET-Packet-13fa0930e847417fb90b0f82e93af92d.pdf. They begin on page 22.

The council will also be hosting a special call meeting on Tuesday, May 10 at 1:30 p.m. to further discuss the distilled spirits package stores. There will be a second reading of the ordinances before they are formerly passed into law.

The next item that was approved was the amendment to the budget for additional funds to go to the tourism department. Finance Director Allison Martin explained the plan in the work session on Apr. 18. To review what was discussed visit https://lumpkin.fetchyournews.com/2022/04/19/council-reviews-master-sidewalk-plan/.

This approval gives the tourism an additional $54,000 for the renovations of the visitor center bathrooms. The county is taking point on planning for the project.

“I have lived here for 27 years and in 27 years looking back those are the worst bathrooms. I’m so excited that we are finally coming around to do this,” exclaimed councilmember Johnny Ariemma.

The council approved the 2022 comprehensive plan that Planning Administrator Jameson Kinely presented to them at their work session. This is a plan done by the city and county and it is completed every five years. The county has already approved its version of the plan.

“We’ve had lots of community input into the comprehensive plan and just as a reminder to everyone this serves as a very eye level plan, we may read it and think well there’s not a lot of detail in there and that’s kind of deliberate so that as each component of that plan comes up they develop a more extensive plan,” commented Mayor JoAnne Taylor.

Mayor JoAnne Taylor while reading the proclamation.

An item that was not on the agenda was a proclamation to make the week of May 1 through May 7 Professional Municipal Clerk week was also read at the meeting. The city clerks that were recognized with this proclamation were City Clerk Mary Csukas and Assistant City Clerk Danna Foster.