Council Begins Discussions on Distilled Spirits Package Store Memorandums
Business, Community February 22, 2022
DAHLONEGA, Ga.- The Dahlonega City Council began discussing what an ordinance for the distilled spirits package store would need to encompass to be out on the books.
City Clerk Mary Csukas gave the council information on the possible name change for the Downtown Development Authority and Main Street Program. Finance Director Allison Martin presented the council with the information on the amendment of the personnel management system policies.
On July 20, 2021, the council voted to put a referendum for a distilled spirits package store on the Nov. ballot. For more information about that meeting visit https://lumpkin.fetchyournews.com/2021/07/20/council-approves-resolution-to-place-package-sales-on-ballot/. 80% of the voters of Dahlonega approved the referendum during the election so now it falls to the council and the city attorney to draft an ordinance for the stores to become reality.
The council began discussing what the ordinance would look like at the work session. The items they discussed were standard of minimum requirements for the issuing of license, building size and inventory with square footage limitations, zoning districts that would allow the business, proximity to vulnerable institutions and other package stores, hours of operation, application fees, and the possibility of using a bidding option for license selection.
There are other items in the memorandum that would go into an ordinance that is set down by the state. To view the full memorandum visit https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/dahlonega-pubu/MEET-Packet-7750f1aee4bc4148a1ec3a45685b63ec.pdf.
The council had a long discussion about the issues involved with the memorandum and gave City Attorney Doug Parks a place to start for drafting the ordinance. However, this will be a long process and there was agreement that there should be two readings of the draft before it is voted on by the council.
“Thank you all for bearing with us through this kind of difficult and detailed discussion, I appreciate everyone’s candor their input I think it’s helpful and hopefully they are a little bit closer to where they need to be,” commented Mayor JoAnne Taylor.
Csukas provided the council with an update on the possible name change for the DDA and Main Street Program to just Downtown Dahlonega. The change comes in order to make identifying the two functions simpler such as when the Community Development umbrella was set up.
“Only concern I have is as DDA one of our questions over the last several years is that they just seem to focus on downtown. Now DDA is supposed to be responsible for Morrison Moore Parkway and other areas in the city and this bothers me that this is now obviously downtown Dahlonega and I want to make sure that the understanding of the responsibility relative to the Main street/DDA now called Downtown Dahlonega,” stated Councilmember Ron Larson.
Lastly, Martin brought to the council the changes that have been made to the personnel management system policies. There are numerous changes throughout the document which can be viewed using the above link.
A notable change is the allowance for work boots has been raised from $100 to $150 for employees that are required to wear them. This document will be voted on at the Mar. 7 regular meeting at 6:00 p.m.
City Council Approves New Alcohol Ordinances
Business, Community, Election August 4, 2021
Dahlonega, Ga. – The city council approved ordinances 2021-02, 2021-03, 2021-04, 2021-05, 2021-06, and 2021-10. The city manager presented his recommendation for the 2022 fiscal year budget and gave citizens an opportunity to voice opinions about it. Lastly, Councilmen Mitchell Ridley and Councilwoman Joanne Taylor were recognized for their service as this was their last meeting in their current capacities.
The ordinances 2021-02 through 2021-06 were all pertaining to alcohol. Ordinance 02 allow and provides regulations for tasting events on premises of Class B or C licenses. Ordinance 03 allows for alcohol containers to be open at tastings. Ordinance 04 allows for alcoholic beverages to be offered for less than one dollar at tastings. Ordinance 05 Section 4-32 of Chapter 4, Article II, as “Reserved.” The final ordinance in this section 06 allows for the delivery of packaged goods from a retailer.
“These ordinances were talked about at length at our work session, most of these changes in requirements in the ordinances is mainly because of the state,” stated Mayor Sam Norton.
The next ordinance that was approved was a zoning map amendment with the Peacock Partnership parcel No. D12-036. The zone was changed to B-1 which is a neighborhood, business district. This was also discussed at the work session.
“I just want to thank the developers for taking suggestions from the neighborhood, I really appreciate you taking into consideration your neighbors,” commented Councilman Mitchell Ridley.
City Manager Bill Schmid gave an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2022. The millage rate is at 5.5% and his recommendation to the council was to approve as is in their meeting on August 16. The meeting will be at 4:00 and is open to the public. The budget is located on the website at https://dahlonega.gov/document/public-notice-fy2022-budget-hearing/
City Manager Bill Schmid (left) and City Attorney Doug Parks (right) as Schmid presents budget recommendations.
“We have spent days and nights going over this whole thing, and kudos to staff they really did an outstanding job. There are not many cities across the state of Georgia that have been able to do this kind of thing, services have not dwindled down whatsoever and been able to lower the millage rate every single year,” explained Councilman Johnny Ariemma.
The last matter of business at the meeting was the recognition of service for both councilman Ridley and councilwoman Taylor. Both are resigning to run for other positions in the government. Mr. Ridley is running for the District 1 Commissioner’s seat after serving eight years on the council. Mrs. Taylor is running for the position of Mayor after serving two and a half years on the council. This was their last meeting before resigning. Those interested in filling those seats can qualify on August 17, 18, and 19.
Councilman Mitchell Ridley at his last city council meeting.
“I’ll take this opportunity to recognize councilmember Taylor and councilmember Ridley for their service. I want to thank them for their loyal and dedicated service through the years. We’ve got a lot accomplished some of it was easy but most of it had a lot of road rage with it so we’ve got a lot done in that amount of time and I’d like to thank yall very much for your willingness to serve,” stated Norton.
Councilwoman JoAnne Taylor at her last city council meeting.