Toccoa Commission, ABC Board Meet

Toccoa’s Alcohol Beverage Control board discusses concerns with the city commission.

The two boards met for a work session on Monday.

City ABC Board Member Gary Donahue said the board has a couple of issues it has encountered as it works on the ABC license renewals that are coming due this month.

“A couple of the applicants did not show up (to an ABC board meeting,” said Donahue. “That is against the ordinance. They were given notice.”

Donahue said the second issue deals with the amount of alcohol being sold at a couple of locations compared to the amount of food.

“It is a 30 percent sales ratio between your liquor and your food,” said Donahue. “That is in the ordinance.”

Donahue said the rule has been in place for a number of years, but has not been enforced regularly previously.

He suggested giving those not in compliance with that time to get in line with the rules that are in place since the enforcement has not been strict previously.

“We have a new applicant apply, they get 120 days to turn in their first 90 days of sales,” said Donahue. “Maybe we could do that, give them 90 days to get it straight.”

Commissioners agreed that the rules needed to be enforced, but also agreed with Donahue’s suggestion to give them to get into compliance so as to avoid punishing anyone unfairly.

Toccoa Mayor Gail Fry said she is okay with a one-time extension to make sure everyone knows and follows the rules.

“They will know now we are enforcing it, so after now, they better be prepared,” said Fry.

For dealing with the issue of businesses not coming before the ABC board as part of their license renewal, the city commission and ABC board decided the commission would approve the renewal of the license for next year contingent on them appearing before the ABC board before the end of this calendar year.

The city commission is expected to take up the ABC license renewals at its meeting on Monday.