Wednesday, March 17, 2004
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Wednesday, March 17, 2004 |
| County will vote on liquor by the drink in Nov. By JOHN THOMPSON It’s going to be crowded ballot for Fayette voters this fall. Last week, the County Commission voted 3-1-1 to add liquor by the drink to the Nov. 2 election. Commissioners Greg Dunn, Linda Wells and Peter Pfeifer supported the issue, while A.G. VanLandingham voted against it, and Herb Frady abstained. This was the second time the issue had been discussed by the commission, and Pfeifer proved to be the swing vote. In January, the commission took no action on the request from John Boykin, who is the CEO at The Palmer Course at Starr’s Mill, the former Whitewater Country Club. The proposal came back before the board because Boykin, along with representatives from The Italian Oven and Olde Mill Steakhouse, had sent letters to the commission asking them to make a decision. But Thursday night, after Pfeifer had some of his questions clarified, the commission voted. “My question, which was not answered at that time, was ‘What issues can the commission choose to place on a ballot and under what circumstances and conditions?” Pfeifer said. After he learned the issues that could be put on the ballot were limited, Pfeifer said he could support the issue so the wishes of the citizens could be expressed on the issue. But Commissioner VanLandingham said he had no plans to change his mind on the issue. “The people have overwhelmingly told me they do not want it on the ballot,” he said. Commissioner Linda Wells, who had supported the issue in January, said it was important for people to realize the commission was not approving liquor by the drink, but only approving its placement on the ballot. “I think the citizens need to vote it up or down. This is America. They have that choice,” she said. While the question in November will concern serving liquor by the drink in the unincorporated county, all county residents will be able to vote on the issue. Voters in unincorporated Coweta County voted March 2 to allow liquor by the drink, and Tyrone voters approved the issue last fall.
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