Alcohol Control Commission

ALCOHOL CONTROL COMMISSION Tuesday, May 14, 2024 The Alcohol Control Commission met at 5:00 p.m. on this date in the City Commission Chambers of City Hall, 601 Broad Street. Billy Cooper, Steve VanMeter, Harold Morgan, Taylor McMichael, and Commissioner Wayne Robinson were present. Doug Phipps was absent and excused. Also present was Assistant City Attorney Sam Lucas. Minutes – April 15, 2024 The minutes of the April 15, 2024, meeting, as submitted in writing by the Secretary, were approved by unanimous consent. License Hearing – Sunny’s Food Mart, 1107 Turner McCall Blvd Secretary Smith reported that Ms. Savitri Singh, beer and wine package licensee at Sunny’s Food Mart, 1107 Turner McCall Blvd., was instructed to be at this License Hearing. This Hearing is held due to a report from the Rome Police Department that on April 4, 2024, beer was sold through a drive up window at this establishment. City of Rome Alcohol Ordinance 3-57(h) prohibits the sale of beer at drive up windows, other City of Rome alcohol code sections prohibit this activity for wine and distilled spirit sales. These City of Rome prohibitions have been in place for many years. Ms. Singh was present, and Chairman Cooper asked Ms. Singh if she denied the alleged violation, admitted to the violation, or admitted to the violation with comments. Ms. Singh admitted that the violation took place. As a result of Ms. Singh admitting to the violation, the Alcohol Control Commission turned their attention to the appropriate response for this violation. Ms. Singh stated that the store is relatively new, having received their business license from the City of Rome in late 2023, and actually acquiring the other needed alcohol credentials (from the State of Georgia) within the last 60 days. Ms. Singh apologized for the violation stating that since a drive up window was physically located at this establishment; she was not aware that beer sales could not take place through that window. The City Alcohol Ordinances are provided to all applicants. While this document is lengthy, the drive through prohibition is included. On the night of the violation, the beer was sold by her partner who was working at that time. Ms. Singh stated she is now aware of this prohibition and, moving forward, neither beer nor tobacco will be sold through the drive up window. There was also brief discussion which led to a reminder for Ms. Singh that since an ID was not checked during this drive up sale (which occurred through an investigation by the Metro Task Force), that she should always be cautious of selling alcohol to persons who do not obviously look of age. After further discussion by the ACC and an outline of penalty options by City Clerk Smith, Mr. Morgan moved to issue a Letter of Warning to Sunny’s Food Mart for the violation of selling beer through a drive up window. Ms. McMichael seconded, and the vote was unanimously in favor. 1 Since there was no penalty recommendation in the form of a license suspension or monetary penalty, this matter will not be presented to the City Commission for action. Ron Swinford – Riverside Parkway Liquor Store Mr. Ron Swinford, 11 Poplar Street, addressed the Alcohol Control Commission concerning the proposed liquor store and convenience store, which is to be constructed on the corner of Riverside Parkway and Riverside Industrial Drive. The applicants for this new liquor store have received approval from the Alcohol Control Commission, however construction has not yet begun. Since the Alcohol Control Commission’s approvals are valid for six months, the applicant has appeared before the Alcohol Control Commission two additional times for extensions of this approval. Mr. Swinford presented an information sheet regarding why this liquor store will be in an undesirable location. Specifically, Mr. Swinford cited the close proximity to the Chieftains Museum and the adjoining lot which contains the local Social Security Office. Mr. Swinford stated that the Social Security Administration has indicated they may relocate out of the Rome community if this liquor store and convenience store are built on the adjoining lot. Mr. Swinford reported that the elderly citizens that visit the Social Security office could be vulnerable to crime from the liquor store and convenience store. He outlined some of the events designed for children and adults that take place at Chieftains Museum. Mr. Swinford stated that some citizens feel this is not a good location for this type of retail outlet. He further stated that the convenience store will likely have coin operated amusement machines as part of their business plan. He speculated that concerts occurring at Ridgeferry Park could lead to alcohol issues with customers buying additional alcohol at this establishment. The ACC members thanked Mr. Swinford for his comments. Mr. Swinford made a similar presentation at the May 13th City Commission meeting. Adjourn With there being no further business, Chairman Cooper adjourned the meeting at 5:26 p.m. Joseph F. Smith City Clerk 2