Franklin BOC Pass Alcohol Ordinance for Unincorporated Areas

Franklin County has adopted an alcohol ordinance.

At their meeting Monday, the Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to adopt the ordinance with Commission Chair Jason Macomon breaking a 2-2 split and voting in favor of the ordinance.

Commissioners Robert Franklin and Eddie Wester voted against.

According to Macomson the ordinance is necessary in order to comply with State rules so a referendum on alcohol sales in the County can go on the November ballot.

This latest move towards allowing the sale of alcohol in the county and the decision to put it on the November ballot came as the result of a survey of Franklin County citizens.

In April, the County received the results of that survey which came back with 80.6% of the respondents in favor of countywide alcohol sales, 17.9% against, and 1.5% with no opinion. The survey had 548 participants.

92.9% of respondents were full-time residents and 80.7% live in the unincorporated area of Franklin County.

During discussions Monday, County Manager Derrick Turner said permitting the sale of alcohol in the county would help relieve the taxpayer burden and make Franklin County more attractive to new potential businesses.

Questions arose as to where alcohol sales in the county should be allowed.

Planning and Zoning Director Scott DeLozier recommended keeping it only in the newly designated commercial and industrial districts.

Commissioner Kyle Foster then motioned to approve the ordinance to allow the sale of alcohol in the County but only in the five commercial/industrial districts, and that was seconded by Commissioner Ryan Swails.

Before the vote, Commissioner Eddie Wester said the issue of an alcohol sale ordinance is a difficult one for him.

“It may not seem like a big deal to some but this is one of the toughest decisions I’ve had to make personally,” he said. “…I agree with Commissioner Foster and Commissioner Swails. It is something we do have to do to bring certain things into the County. But I also know what alcohol can do to families. I’ve seen it firsthand, not with me but with somebody who is close to me. So there’s a very big concern with that.”

Commissioner Robert Franklin did not comment but said in earlier meetings that he believes allowing alcohol sales in the County would lead to more alcohol-related crime and accidents.

Macomson, however, pointed out that alcohol is already in the County in other ways.

“I tend to agree with everybody. I respect the difference of opinion. I know that some of us feel very strongly that we should not allow alcohol sales. And I also get that it’s a draw; we need it for certain businesses to consider coming into the unincorporated areas,” he said. “The truth of the matter is, alcohol is already in the County. It’s only bought and sold in the cities but it does not stay in the cities. It goes out into the unincorporated areas because people take it out there.  So, even though, technically we’re a dry county, we’re not really. I think from that standpoint, it’s a legalized substance and we’re arbitrarily telling people they can’t buy or sell this legal substance based on where you live. I don’t drink. It’s not going to impact me personally but I know that there are places out in the unincorporated areas where it does have an affect.”

Currently, Franklin County is one of just four counties in Georgia that is considered “dry.”