Published Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Sharpsburg moves ahead on details of alcohol ordinance

By Winston Skinner

The Times-Herald

The Sharpsburg Town Council has approved a first reading of an ordinance that would outline the rules and regulations for restaurants serving alcohol.

The council gave unanimous approval to the proposed ordinance at the meeting Monday at the A&O Bridges Community Center. Mayor Derrick McElwaney noted Sharpsburg's citizens voted "to allow alcohol on premise consumption" in 2004.

The council, however, "never enacted an ordinance," he said. A local pizza emporium has inquired about a license.

Town Clerk Donna Camp said the issue was discussed by the council at a work session in April. Discussion at that meeting led to the formulation of the draft, which also has fees for licenses. The proposed annual fees are -- wholesale liquor dealer, $100; wine package retail, $300; wine, retail consumption, $300; beer, retail package, $300; beer, retail consumption, $300; beer/wine/liquor, retail consumption, $5,000.

"They are pretty much in line with the county," Camp said. She also looked at fees charged in Newnan and Senoia. Those cities charge $5,000 for liquor by the drink licenses. Otherwise, most of Newnan's rates are lower than the county's, and Senoia's are higher.

About 20 people attended the hearing on the ordinance, which preceded the regular council meeting. No one spoke about the ordinance.

"I pretty much put in my input before," Mayor Pro-Tem Polly Garlington said.

When the council went into regular session, Councilman Gordy Anderson made the motion to approve the first reading on the alcohol ordinance, seconded by Keith Rhodes. The motion passed unanimously, and the issue will be on the agenda for a likely decision on July 13.

During Monday's meeting, the council also heard comments from Dorene Roeglin of Chattahoochee-Flint Regional Development Center and Coweta County Emergency Management Director Jay Jones.

Roeglin, standing in for Lynne Miller, Chatt-Flint's planning director, talked about a proposed solid waste management plan for Sharpsburg, Grantville, Haralson, Moreland and Turin.

The goal of the plan, which would be in effect through 2016, is "to reduce the amount of garbage going into the landfills," Roeglin said.

She noted Sharpsburg's solid waste -- 4.53 pounds per person per day -- "is lower than typical" -- which is about six pounds. Roeglin outlined the plan's proposals, which aim to reduce Sharpsburg's overall waste to 3.53 pounds per person per day by 2016.

Even with that goal, the amount of waste is expected to increase. "You have to counterbalance the large growth," Roeglin said.

The council approved a resolution that places the plan on the table until next month.

Jones talked about the county's Emergency Contingency Plan and how Sharpsburg fits into it. The plan calls for Sharpsburg to offer resources and longterm mitigation in the event of a major disaster. Jones, who has been director of the county's Emergency Management Agency for about a year, said he has spent much time outlining "roles and responsibilities" for the various entities in the county.

The council also gave unanimous approval to the joint resolution approving the emergency plan.