EMMA GREENE/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO -- John Robertson spoke about speed limits at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday, Oct. 5.
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners is considering changing the county’s alcohol ordinance to expand the scope of establishments eligible for a license.
The board had its first reading of the amendment to the ordinance at its monthly meeting on Monday at the courthouse, where all were present except District 3 Commissioner David Clark.
About 20 residents attended the 44-minute meeting.
The revised ordinance expands the scope of establishments that are eligible for a license to private event and hospitality spaces. They must meet certain requirements outlined in the ordinance such as offering food to guests and refusing to promote themselves as a nightclub or bar.
“Some of the event centers, when they’re not booked for events, would like to do dinner … and they would want to sell wine with the dinners,” District 5 Commissioner Tracy Norman said. “Same thing with private clubs. They would want to pour beer and wine with dinners.”
Norman also clarified that events would still need a special use permit. The amendment only applies to event spaces.
Edward Toledano is the co-owner of the Gillen House Bed and Breakfast which also serves as a wedding venue.
“This (amendment) will just make it easier for everybody,” Toledano said.
The amendment also allows the board to refuse renewal of an alcoholic beverage license to any business that sells products containing derivatives from Kratom, a tree native to Southeast Asia.
These include mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15, MGM-16 or tianeptine.
Kratom’s leaves can cause stimulating effects in low doses and sedative effects in high doses. Norman said nearby counties are also regulating the sale of the substance.
“It could take two to three years for the FDA to ban something.” Norman said. “The counties could at least keep it out of your convenience stores.”
Norman said the ordinance wouldn’t prevent the substance from being sold at vape shops, which don’t have an alcohol license.
The ordinance is set to be read for the second time and voted on at the November meeting.
Budget presentation
The board presented the 2027 budget, which is projected at $12,396,070, up from $11.4 million from last year’s budget. The Sheriff's Office accounts for the biggest part of the budget at around $2.3 million, followed by the jail at $1.9 million and EMS services at $1.8 million.
The county is required to hold one public hearing on the proposed budget since the board doesn’t anticipate a tax increase. The board plans to vote on the budget at its November meeting.
Hold variance request
The board of commissioners voted 3-1 to table Comer resident Brad Johns’ request for an exception to pave a private access drive from Watson’s Mill to Clouds Creek on his property until it can further grasp the details of the request.
The zoning board recommended to the board to deny Johns’ request at its meeting on Sept. 23.
Johns brought various supporting documents to support his case.
County administrator Jason Lewis helped Johns project his documents onto the monitors in the courtroom. At one point, District 2 Commissioner Andy Saxon and Chairman Jay Paul stood and pointed at the screens to better grasp the technicalities of the request.
Johns said Oglethorpe County only requires paved roads in subdivisions.
“I'm not going to subdivide this,” Johns said. “My intentions are in the contract: no subdividing, no mobile homes.”
In other business, the BOC:
- Unanimously approved a resolution to adopt Oglethorpe County's Comprehensive Plan.
Heard from Smithonia’s John Robertson, who asked the board to look into starting the process to lower the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph on a portion of Crawford-Smithonia Road from Beaverdam Road to Smithonia Road.