Franklin County Voters Deciding Four Alcohol Resolutions

Franklin County voters are going to the polls today to consider whether to allow liquor sales and liquor by the drink in the county.

Voters in Franklin County are being asked to consider four different alcohol referendums.

They include a resolution for Sunday sales by the Drink, a resolution for Sunday Package sales, a resolution for Package sales of distilled spirits, and a resolution for distilled spirits by the drink.

Franklin County has traditionally been a dry county – one of only two left in the State.

Alcohol sales are allowed in most of the municipalities but not in the county.

In April, County Manager Derrick Turner told the Board of Commissioners the results of a survey posted on the Franklin County website showed most people were in favor of allowing alcohol sales in Franklin County.

“We had 80.6% in favor of countywide alcohol sales, against was 17.9%, no opinion – 1.5%. This survey had 548 participants. 92.9% were full-time residents and 80.7% live in the unincorporated area of Franklin County,” he said.

Turner showed the Commissioners a chart of all of the counties in Georgia and which are completely dry and which have some kind of alcohol sale ordinance.

Of the 159 counties in the state, Franklin County is one of the few left that is completely dry.

Turner suggested it might be time for them to look at some kind of alcohol sale ordinance as a way to attract new restaurants and other businesses into Franklin County.

“I would recommend that the Board look at proceeding with further action towards this. Further action would be a vote on a resolution to hold a referendum,” he said. “I think this would be an opportunity for the County…As you have restaurants or other businesses that have a need for an alcohol license, they’re going to bypass Franklin County.”

In June, the Board of Commissioners approved the first reading of a proposed ordinance allowing the sale of alcohol in the County, including liquor by the drink in restaurants.

Commissioner Robert Franklin said he is against the idea noting it could lead to an increase in crime.

And WLHR News will bring you the election results of alcohol sales in the county tonight after the polls close.