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A new year, a new alcohol law in Oakwood
Final Sunday sales vote set for meeting next week
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In other business

The Oakwood City Council also on Monday voted to authorize City Manager Stan Brown to negotiate an agreement with Hall County concerning 911 services.

Basically, the county is looking to impose a 911 charge on prepaid cell phones.

Georgia already charges a 75-cent tax to users of prepaid plans. A resolution passed by the Hall County Board of Commissioners in September allows the county to collect its fair share of that tax, Assistant County Administrator Marty Nix has said.

Brown said that Hall County also sent a copy of the agreement to Gainesville, which has police and fire departments, and Flowery Branch, which, like Oakwood, has a police department.

Gainesville is set to consider the matter at its Thursday work session.

Also, the council read a proclamation honoring Councilman Gary Anderson, who is leaving the council after 16 years of service. He chose not to run for re-election this November and will be succeeded Jan. 1 by Todd Wilson.

 

OAKWOOD — Sunday alcohol sales will begin Jan. 1 in Oakwood if the City Council gives its final OK, as expected, at a called meeting next Monday.

The council voted Monday night to approve an ordinance regulating Sunday sales of beer, wine and liquor at city package stores and other businesses, such as convenience and grocery stores.

A final vote is set for 4 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 4035 Walnut Circle.

The decision follows voter approval on Nov. 8 of Sunday sales. A law passed by the General Assembly earlier this year gave cities and counties the option of allowing voters to consider the issue at the ballot box.

The city's ordinance prohibits sales on Thanksgiving and Christmas. And because Christmas falls on a Sunday, the earliest Sunday sales could start in Oakwood is New Year's Day.

Statewide, stores in municipalities that approved Sunday sales can sell alcohol on that day between 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

Gainesville merchants began Sunday sales this week. Flowery Branch was among the first cities in Georgia to start Sunday sales when it began the practice on Nov. 20.

Hall County residents will have a say March 6 - the same day as Georgia's presidential preference primary - on whether they want Sunday alcohol sales in unincorporated areas.

The Board of Commissioners has voted to put on the ballot a referendum allowing package stores, currently banned in the county, as well as Sunday package and liquor-by-the-drink sales.

The issue stirred very little discussion at Monday's Oakwood meeting.

"This is just strictly complying with state law and the referendum?" Mayor Lamar Scroggs asked City Attorney Donnie Hunt.

"Exactly," Hunt said.