The Ellijay City Council approved the last round of alcohol license renewals for 2019 during the its final meeting of the year Monday, Dec. 16.
On-premise consumption licenses for beer and wine were renewed for Cantaberry Restaurant, Boardwalk Pizza and Pub and Country Corner Kitchen.
An on-premise consumption license for beer, wine and distilled spirits was renewed for Ellijay Wood Fired Pizza.
An off-premise consumption (package) license for beer and wine was approved for Highway 5 General Store. The downtown Ellijay general store has changed ownership and met the requirements for a new license.
Councilmembers voted not to refund a 2019 on-premise alcohol consumption license for The Roof Ellijay. The in-construction bar and restaurant’s proprietors had requested a refund of the $1,850 license due to the establishment not opening this year, Mayor Al Hoyle said.
Councilmember David Westmoreland said he did not want to set a precedent for refunding alcohol licenses, even if the licensed business hadn’t opened.
Councilmember Al Fuller agreed about setting a precedent, but offered a different opinion on the refund request.
“I think if it were a business license, that would be a bad precedent,” he said, adding that the businessowners originally thought they would be open in time to use the 2019 license.
Hoyle said although the restaurant didn’t open this year, a local on-premise license first had to be obtained before applying for a state alcohol license.
“That 2019 city license was used to get their state license. That makes the process of getting your 2020 (state) one easier. We’ve (also) already issued their 2020 license, which was a renewal,” he added.
In other news ...
Councilmembers approved a zoning change from R3 (multifamily residential) to GC (general commercial) for property at 56 Courier Street.
﹣ Downtown Development Authority member Josh Moyers was appointed to a new term with the DDA.
﹣ Westmoreland, Ruth Caudell and Lynelle Stewart attended their last meeting as Ellijay City Councilmembers. Former mayor and outgoing mayor pro-tem Westmoreland has been on the council since 1983, Caudell since 1997 and Stewart since 2016.
Newly-elected councilmembers — Sandy Ott, Tom Crawford and Kevin Pritchett — will join incumbents Fuller and Katie Lancey in January.
“I want to tell you how much I’ve enjoyed serving with all of you and appreciate your contributions,” said Hoyle before the meeting wrapped.
Fuller said a big thing about those leaving the council is they’ve always agreed to disagree.
“That’s what got us through everything. We respected each other. That’s kind of rare these days, especially in politics,” he added.