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Columbus retailers allege licensing delays and harassment; council seeks clarification on coin‑operated amusement ‘grandfather’ provision
Summary
Multiple retailers told council on Oct. 28 they faced inconsistent treatment and long delays at the city licensing office. One speaker asked the council to honor a grandfather clause for coin‑operated amusement machine permits; the city attorney summarized the ordinance language and directed affected businesses to file written refund requests if
Several business owners and an accounting professional told Columbus City Council on Oct. 28 that the city’s licensing office had delayed or refused licenses and that some applicants experienced what they described as harassment.
Paresh (Patel), a local business owner, told the council he was required to pay for a COAM (coin‑operated amusement) survey despite believing a grandfather clause exempted existing operators. He said the licensing office required the survey and rejected his license application until he paid; he said similar complaints have come from other retailers and asked council to investigate the licensing office’s consistency.
“I did also request them to let me speak higher up. They denied it… they sent me home,” Paresh told the council. He said multiple retailers shared similar problems and asked for a city response.
Council response and next steps: city officials and the city attorney explained the process available to businesses. The city attorney advised that refund requests under OCGA §48‑5‑380 must be submitted in writing to the Clerk of Council; council can consider those claims and, if dissatisfied, businesses can appeal to superior court. Council members asked the Clerk of Council to retrieve the ordinance language tied to the coin‑operated amusement machine permits.
On the coin‑operated amusement question specifically, the city attorney summarized the code language (City Code Sec. 14‑264): locations that operated with a valid state license for coin‑operated machines prior to April 1, 2024, could receive a city permit if they applied before Sept. 1, 2024; a second clause allows a one‑year window for an application if a previous licensee ceased operation at a location. Councilors said they would revisit the matter and Councilor Tucker asked staff to bring code/meeting references back on Nov. 4 so the public could see the ordinance text and the council’s prior discussion.
Alleged harassment: Council members acknowledged the complaints and asked the deputy city manager to have staff reach out to the businesses who said they had been mistreated. Council asked business owners to provide names, documentation or written complaints so administration could investigate.
Why this matters: business owners said licensing delays had financial consequences. Council members urged clear processes and asked staff to return with the ordinance language and to inform businesses of the formal refund/appeal process. The city attorney said he or staff would provide the legal language and clerk’s office guidance requested by council.
