Meriwether County staff on Tuesday presented ordinance amendment 25-05, a comprehensive revision of Chapter 4 of the Meriwether County Code of Ordinances that incorporates provisions related to a May referendum authorizing the sale of distilled spirits by the package and corrects longstanding inconsistencies and typographical errors.

During a detailed walkthrough, a community development staff presenter (Speaker 5) told commissioners the draft clarifies licensing procedures and responsibilities for the director of community development, adds enforcement and hearing procedures, expands excise tax provisions to cover distilled spirits and establishes zoning and building rules for package stores. The presentation also added licensing steps for farm wineries and breweries, including a requirement that farm-brewery applicants submit evidence of a state license and display both state and county licenses on premises. Speaker 5 said an applicant for a farm brewery would pay an annual license fee of $750 plus $500 per tasting-room location.

The draft also broadens suspension and revocation language. Speaker 5 explained the director of community development would be authorized to immediately suspend an alcohol license for up to 30 days in specified circumstances — including arrests related to alcohol-law violations, crimes involving moral turpitude, bankruptcy or failure to pay excise taxes — with an opportunity for a hearing before the board. "The director of community development may immediately suspend the alcohol license for a period of not more than 30 days until a hearing can be scheduled before the board of commissioners," Speaker 5 said.

Several commissioners focused on the phrasing of a provision that would allow suspension for "on-site events or altercations that result in the arrest of patrons and/or employees." Commissioner-level speakers (Speakers 3 and 4) said the current wording risked penalizing legitimate business owners if incidents began off-premises. One commissioner suggested separating employee arrests from patron arrests and creating thresholds — for example, multiple on-site altercations in a calendar year — before license revocation would be considered. County attorney (Speaker 1) noted the director retains discretion and that suspensions are subject to appeal and a board hearing.

After taking public comment and hearing the board’s edits, the chair moved to table ordinance amendment 25-05 to the Jan. 20, 2026 meeting and directed staff to return with a clean revision that incorporates the board’s suggested wording changes. "I would recommend that, once you close this public hearing that when you get to the full point of voting, you might wanna have a clean copy at your next hearing or maybe table the actual decision to your next one," a speaker said during public comment. The motion to table passed.

Next steps: staff will prepare and distribute a clean redlined and final-draft ordinance for the board’s January meeting, at which time the board may vote on adoption if it is satisfied with the revisions.