Williamson council approves amended alcohol license over church opposition; one member votes no

The Williamson City Council on May 7 approved an amended retail alcohol license application for a business at a location where prior sales at that address were in question. The council voted to allow an amendment to clarify a 'previous sales' question and then approved the amended application; the two actions were recorded as 3-1, with Councilmember Bob Harrison opposing both votes.

The matter drew scrutiny because the applicant, Mark Sanders, marked a response indicating previous sales had occurred at the location. Councilmember Harrison cited city ordinance 7-4-14, which makes a false application grounds for denial, and asked Sanders to explain his answer. Sanders told the council he "answered based on information provided to him." Councilmember Carol Berry moved to permit Sanders to amend the application; John Smithson seconded the motion and it passed with Harrison opposed. The council then approved the amended application by the same margin.

The council and the city clerk reviewed state setback rules under OCGA 3-3-21. The clerk advised that sales of malt and wine must be at least 100 yards from schools, sales of distilled spirits must be 100 yards from churches and 200 yards from schools, and neither distilled spirits nor malt/wine may be sold within 100 yards of a rehabilitation facility. Bob Harrison asked about the distance between the licensed premise and a nearby church; Richard Wallace of the Methodist Church told the council that the church would likely oppose the license at that location.

Mayor Steve Fry explained that local approval is required before the application proceeds to the state licensing authority; the council’s approval sends the city’s decision forward but does not guarantee state approval.

Next steps: The city will finalize its application record and the state licensing authority will review the submission under state rules.