Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Walnut Grove council adopts ordinance regulating tobacco, vaping and hemp sales; approves appointments and fees
Summary
At its May 15 meeting, the Walnut Grove City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 2026‑02 to regulate sales of age‑restricted products (classifying electronic smoking devices under tobacco), postponed a license appeal, approved asset disposals, appointed a planning member, backed county speed‑limit efforts and added a 10% sanitation late fee.
The Walnut Grove City Council on May 15 unanimously adopted Ordinance 2026‑02, which updates the city code to regulate the sale of age‑restricted products including tobacco, hemp and electronic smoking devices.
City staff explained the changes before the vote. Joe, the city administrator, told council that under state law vaping products are treated alongside tobacco and that the ordinance adds a definition for “electronic smoking devices,” vaping liquids and related products as reflected in the official code of Georgia cited in the meeting. He said the measure requires separate licenses for tobacco and for hemp retailers; retailers wishing to sell both must obtain both licenses.
“According to state law, vape and tobacco are lumped together,” Joe told council during the ordinance discussion. The ordinance, introduced as Ordinance 2026‑02, was moved, seconded and approved by unanimous voice vote.
Other formal actions at the meeting included:
- Postponing the appeal of a license denial for M & M Processing. The city attorney advised that the applicant had an opportunity to appear at this meeting; council voted to delay a final decision and directed staff to consider the matter at the next work session so members could discuss additional information. The council’s motion to postpone was seconded and carried.
- Approving the city’s recommended list of assets for disposal after staff removed a wood chipper from the list because it appears serviceable; staff will document items and advertise the sale date once set.
- Appointing Colin Lloyd to the planning and zoning commission after council reviewed his application; the appointment passed unanimously.
- Adopting Resolution 2026‑04 to support Walton County’s speed‑reduction efforts on DOT roads within Walnut Grove (council discussed confirmation that the resolution applies to DOT‑controlled routes such as route 13881).
- Adding a 10% late fee to the sanitation fee schedule (applied after two missed payments) with a $20 reconnect charge for service interruption; council approved the change after brief discussion.
Votes on the listed agenda items were recorded as unanimous in open voice votes during the meeting. The council also read proclamations recognizing the U.S. semiquincentennial and National Public Works Week.
