Residents urge clarity on alcohol rules and raise concerns about county-backed fish farm project

During the public-comment period on Jan. 6, residents urged the board to clarify local alcohol regulations and raised questions about county support for a regional fish farm project.

Jared Green, who asked the board to check local ordinances and the state Alcoholic Beverage Control rules, said he had believed there were two separate local prohibitions—one for beer and wine and another for mixed drinks—but discovered the county ordinance restricts beer and wine only. Green asked the board to clarify for affected restaurants that mixed drinks are not locally prohibited on Sundays. He told the board, “I was under the impression when I brought it up initially that there were 2 separate ordinances... I started doing my homework... We only have an ordinance in place against beer and wine that was last amended in ’73.”

Several commenters, including Charles King Jr., raised concerns about a fish farm project the county is supporting. King said much of the project acreage lies in Russell County, questioned long-term viability, and asked what guarantees exist if private investors do not complete the project. He noted traffic and safety issues near the college housing area and questioned the public benefit relative to county expenditures; he cited a county allocation of $150,000 toward a turn lane and questioned whether coal-severance funds might be better used on other roads.

Board members asked staff and the county attorney to review whether there is any ordinance or state restriction applicable to mixed drinks and to provide clarification publicly to affected businesses. The county attorney noted there is no local ordinance prohibiting mixed drinks and that state licensing has changed recently to allow mixed drinks.