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Dalton council reduces Walnut Express suspension after review of Public Safety finding
Summary
The Dalton mayor and council reviewed a Public Safety Commission finding that Walnut Express sold alcohol to a minor and voted to reduce a recommended 30-day suspension to 14 days while upholding a $2,500 fine; the decision follows an owner apology and evidence of new ID scanners.
The Dalton mayor and council on Feb. 2 reviewed a Public Safety Commission record that found CMG Dalton Development, doing business as Walnut Express, guilty of a second alcohol-license violation for selling alcohol to a minor and voted to shorten a recommended 30-day license suspension to 14 days while upholding a $2,500 fine.
The case file presented to council noted the Public Safety Commission recommended a $2,500 fine and a 30-day suspension under Dalton code section 6-2-34. During public comment, business owner Mister Patel apologized and said one employee had failed to verify age. Patel said the business has operated 20 years and has purchased ID scanners to prevent future sales to minors: “Since then, we have made a huge financial investment in purchasing ID scanners that help avoid... I’m requesting the board to review any suspensions to our license as this would be a great financial burden to the business,” he told the council.
After staff summarized the commission’s finding, a councilmember who had reviewed the hearing transcript moved to reduce the suspension to two weeks, citing Patel’s actions to correct the problem. The motion was seconded and the presiding official announced the motion carried. The meeting transcript records affirmative voice votes in favor of the motion; the transcript does not contain a complete roll-call or a full named tally.
The council’s action replaces the commission’s recommended 30-day suspension with a 14-day suspension and maintains a $2,500 fine, consistent with the penalty table in the cited code for a second violation within 36 months. The council did not take additional evidence; staff stated the mayor and council’s role was to review the record from the Public Safety Commission.
