HALL COUNTY, Ga. — While many cities across the state are debating whether to let voters decide on Sunday alcohol sales, one north Georgia town is considering a total alcohol sale ban.
The proposed ordinance in Clermont would also restrict so-called brown bagging.
"We've never had (alcohol sales) any day of the week in the town of Clermont," Mayor James Nix told Channel 2 Action News reporter Manuel Bojorquez.
He said the town has always been dry, and the proposed ordinance would put that in writing. But the ordinance would also prevent people from bringing their own alcohol to certain establishments.
Business owner Kerry Hicks believes that's the real push for the ordinance and said he's being targeted.
"It's backwards. It's totally backwards," said Hicks, owner of The Smokin' Fisherman, a smoke and bait shop on Cleveland Highway.
Hicks said business has been down, so he wanted to expand and decided to add a room that would become a private pool club, where members could bring their own beer. He said he checked to make sure the plan would be in compliance with Hall County and the town.
"I talked to my City Council person to make sure there was no ordinance against what I was doing, and I was told to go ahead with my project," he said.
Hicks said he put nearly $20,000 dollars into the project and then learned about the proposed ordinance.
But the mayor said the ordinance is just an effort to clarify questions about alcohol sales and restrictions, as well as a way to enforce open-container laws. He said he believes most of the town's 875 residents would like things to remain as they have been for years.
"A lot of our people who live in this town are lifelong residents," Nix said.
A public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for Tuesday, with a possible vote in July.
Hicks said he plans to open the addition to his business in the next seven to 10 days.
"As far as I'm concerned, I started before the ordinance. They can grandfather me in," he said.
WSBTV
