With Governor's Signature, Loganville Will Now Have Both Alcohol Measures On November Ballot

Now the governor has signed legislation allowing local jurisdictions to put Sunday retail sales of malt beverages on the November ballot, Sundays could be a little different in Loganville.

The city has already called for a referendum on Sunday sales of liquor by the drink. It also called for the retail option contingent on the governor’s signature, which it now has. Gov. Nathan Deal signed the bill into law Thursday. Depending on the outcome of both votes - and on how quickly the city can ordinances on the books should voters approve it - residents could be having a glass of wine with their luncheon by New Year’s day 2012 - or even before. And if they forget the night before, they could swing by the closest grocery or convenience store after 12:30 p.m. on a Sunday to pick up a six-pack.

However, voters still have to approve the measure and it is likely to garner some strong opposition. What isn’t yet clear either is whether the counties will follow suit.

“No vote has been called yet so it’s not sure there will be an election in the county in November,” said Joe Sorrenson, Gwinnett County communications director. “There is an assumption by some people the school board will call for a vote, but nothing has been done about it yet and no vote has been called for. (Chairman) Charlotte Nash is on record saying there are other more pressing things for the commission to be dealing with at the moment. There’s plenty of time to consider a vote on Sunday sales before November. There may or may not be a call for a vote.”

Sorrenson said should the Board of Education not call for a vote on the school Special Local Option Sales Tax, a special election just for the alcohol issue would be a big expense for the county to consider.

“The cost of a special election is upwards of $800,000,” Sorrenson said. “That’s a large expense when there’s a general election coming up a year later.”

While Walton County also is likely to have several special sales tax measures on a ballot in November, including a Local Option Sales Tax, Education Local Option Sales Tax, Transportation Special Local Option Sales tax and the Special Local Option sales Tax, it doesn’t seem in a rush to consider the issue of retail sales of malt beverages on a Sunday either.

“When I asked I was told there was no discussion until all the cities have approved or denied all versions of the alcohol laws,” said Walton County District 2 Commissioner Chuck Bagley, of Loganville, adding the issuance of beer and wine licenses has now been moved to Planning and Development so the Board of Commissioners is no longer involved in the issuance of any business licenses.

“I think we would have to wait until there was a request from retail establishments for Sunday sales before it would be considered to place it on the ballot,” Bagley said. “At this time I don’t know of any restaurants in the county that sell beer and wine.”

Bagley said he believed it would require some type of sewer to have a restaurant with high volume traffic so restaurants of that type are presently located in city limits where there is sewer. However, there are some convenience stores and gas stations in unincorporated Walton County that could still ask the commission to consider the measure.

Grayson too, is not in any hurry to consider Sunday retail sales of malt beverages. Mayor Jim Hinkle said there’s plenty of time before November and legislation calls for the measure to be advertised for just four weeks prior to the election. There are, however, other cities in Gwinnett County that have municipal elections already scheduled and have advised they will be putting the measure on the ballot.