Watkinsville Tables Discussion Of Liquor Referendum Pending Clarification of Oconee County Vote

By Lee Becker

Watkinsville City Council tonight tabled discussion of a possible liquor-by-the-drink referendum in the city until it can get clarification on the legal implications of a county-wide referendum already on the November ballot.

While the Oconee County Board of Commissioners and County Attorney Daniel Haygood have discussed the November referendum entirely in terms of its impact on the unincorporated parts of the county, Watkinsville City Attorney Joe Reitman said the county referendum could affect the city as well.

Reitman said he needs to talk with legal experts at the Georgia Municipal Association to determine if a vote for liquor sales by citizens of Oconee County, including residents of the municipalities, would make it unnecessary for citizens in those cities to vote again on sales in their communities.

Reitman said he will call GMA General Counsel Susan Moore in the morning and suggested that Mayor Charles Ivie join in a conference call.

For more on this story, go to Oconee County Observations.

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