Rumors spur alcohol debate
By Arthur McLean Editor

Approval of Thomasville's zoning and land use ordinance turned out to be just the appetizer to the main course of alcohol issues for the capacity crowd in council chambers Monday night.

Rumors began circulating sometime late last week in the community that the council would be approving an alcohol control ordinance. Some residents were even told that the council would take action by itself to legalize the sale of alcoholic beverages within the city without a vote of the people.

"That rumor - that has never been the intent of this council, we wouldn't do it anyway and we don't have the right under any authority to do that, said Mayor Sheldon Day.

"I have no intent to approve this ordinance tonight," he said. "I'll take the blame that maybe I was not as clear as I should have been."

Day went on to state that the proposal was only a first draft and that changes would take place and shape the document upon receiving feedback from the council and the community.

The current document is essentially a hybrid of the alcohol control ordinances in place in Monroeville and Jackson, said city attorney Edmon McKinley. Day had presented copies of the two cities' ordinances to council members in a previous meeting earlier in the year.

Advice was also sought from the state's alcohol beverage control officers on crafting a control ordinance and additional information was sought from Monroeville and Jackson about their experiences in implementing these ordinances, Day said.

McKinley further clarified that licensing fees were under review and would likely change.

Rob Moore, representing Citizens Against Alcohol Sales in Thomasville presented his concerns over the ordinance and the issue of alcohol sales in general.

"We talk about these new businesses coming to Thomasville and everything that has been done here has been done without a penny of alcohol sales," he said.

Moore said he was alarmed by the language of the control ordinance and what he saw as business owners in town "looking to turn their businesses into bars."

Day clarified saying there would be no bars or lounges allowed with Thomasville's ordinance.

The first technical issue Moore dealt with was the requirement that any establish- ment selling alcohol must be at least 200 feet away from an established, free-standing church, but with no restrictions on distance in areas zoned for general business. Moore said he would prefer miles of separation.

Moore then took issue with the list of banned activities considered to be adult entertainment. "Why can't we just say this won't be tolerated period?"

Day replied that the specific language was added at the recommendation of state beverage control officials.

Moore also called the initial listing of $150 for an alcohol license "absurd" and the idea of alcohol sales on a country club's golf course "uncalled for."

Moore then questioned where the ordinance has been prior to Monday night. "Why did it take so long for this document to surface? You've been mum until it's finished," Moore said.

Day replied that the alcohol control ordinance was not finished and that he gave copies of the Monroeville and Jackson ordinances to council members to begin thinking about this issue "months ago."

In fact, in April of 2006, The Thomasville Times reported that Day announced his plans to have an alcohol control ordinance available for public review before a vote was taken on alcohol sales.

"The public needs to make an educated decision and it needs to know what the rules

would be in advance of the vote," Day said during that April meeting.

Day said he and city officials rushed to put together a draft ordinance because he was receiving so many requests from the community to see it.

"It's very disappointing to me and unfair that there's this perception that I'm trying to do something behind the scenes," Day said. "Perceive what you want, but there has been no attempt to sneak this through."

Moore closed saying that if Thomasville approved alcohol sales, "you open the door to something you've never dealt with before...opening the door to a lot of bad things in this city."

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