Focus: Sunday drink sales

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VOTERS CLOSER TO DECIDING SUNDAY SALES

UPDATED: By a 6-2 vote, Rome's city commissioners have approved putting a referendum before city voters regarding restricted Sunday alcohol sales at specific restaurants and other locations.

Monday's vote came following brief comments from six of seven people who had asked to speak before the commissioners. Four spoke in favor of putting the issue on the ballot and two against. A seventh scheduled speaker didn't show.

The commissioners briefly debated whether to place the issue on the ballot with both Kim Canada--who chairs the Alcohol Control Commission that recommended the City Commission consider the issue--and Norman Skidmore opposing the motion.

The six other commissioners voted to place it before voters Nov. 2. Mayor Ronnie Wallace said he would have voted in favor as well but added he might vote differently when it appears on the ballot.

About 15 people were in the audience and most were there to hear the discussions about the Sunday sales issue. As emotional as the issue has been in the past, Monday's meeting was low key.

The first speaker was Mike Morse, who's been appointed spokesman for the community's hospitality association which is spearheading the referendum. Morse, general manager of Holiday Inn Skytop, talked of how the referendum, if passed, would keep Rome competitive with other cities seeking tourism/visitor dollars. Passage also would increase the number of jobs at area restaurants and within the hospitality industry, he said.

Morse's comments mirrored those he made before the ACC on July 22 (see his earlier comments below, "ACC vote follows careful questioning").

Next was Steve Smith of Applebee's who agreed with Morse, saying the proposal would add another 10 percent to the 2,700 people who already work in Greater Rome's hospitality industry.

Jim Lawrence, general manager of the Coosa Country Club, said passage would mean a $150,000 increase in business at the club. It could mean a Sunday brunch, the resumption of Sunday dinner at the club and many more birthday, anniversary and wedding events that currently can't be booked on Sundays because would-be customers want alcohol served, he said.

The final speaker in favor was college student and Applebee's server Monica Whitfield who said she and others like her putting themselves through college would find more opportunities if Sunday sales were permitted. She told how most Sundays are slow at area restaurants following the after-church rush.

The first speaker opposed was Austin Goggans of Garden Lakes. In his prepared statement, he picked up on an earlier theme about how would-be visitors were choosing to bypass Greater Rome because of no Sunday drink sales. Goggans said he asked for a list of those groups and businesses but was not provided with one.

He criticized those would-be visitors who "seek to prostitute Rome's soul." He also said his faith finds alcohol consumption "morally reprehensible."

Also opposed was Tim Agan who told commissioners that Rome is "a family oriented town" and that he's been proud to live here all his life. He implored the board to look at the "wide picture" of what alcohol sales could mean here on Sundays.

Following those comments, the commission discussed the matter.

Canada said he asked the police department to do a quick study on alcohol-related arrests between January 2002 and last month. Examined were drunken driving, underage drinking and disorderly intoxication cases, he said.

The study found about a sixth or less of those arrests occurred on Sundays but Canada wondered if those numbers would increase because of additional sales. He qualified the report by saying the times of each Sunday arrest were not broken out so it wasn't known how many occurred after closing time on Saturday nights.

Skidmore reminded commissioners about one community benefactor, S. Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A. Skidmore said Cathy's business doesn't even operate on Sundays, let alone sell alcohol. Skidmore, like Canada, declared he would oppose a motion to put the Sunday sales referendum before voters "and I would urge you to do the same."

Commissioner Bill Collins disagreed, saying the issue must be decided by city voters. He told of young people leaving Rome "and going to communities much more dangerous." He also talked about the loss of jobs and revenue because of the current no-sales stance.

Wright Bagby, who declared "I don't have an issue one way or the other" on Sunday sales, told fellow commissioners "the issue is not whether you favor or disfavor" the proposal but whether to let voters have a say.

Commissioners Katie Dempsey, Jamie Doss, Bill Fricks and Buzz Wachsteter agreed' Fricks added that"closing the door" to a public vote "would be a mistake."

The final vote was 6-2 with Bagby, Collins, Dempsey, Doss, Fricks and Wachsteter in favor to put it on the Nov. 2 ballot, and Canada and Skidmore opposed.

THE ISSUE AT A GLANCE: The proposal calls for allowing restricted by-the-drink sales at Rome restaurants and State Mutual Stadium provided each has at least a 50/50 mix of food-to-alcohol sales. Consumption would be banned until 12:30 p.m. Sundays.

The issue is backed by the community's hospitality association which says the change is need to keep Greater Rome competitive with other markets chasing conference, sports and other tourism-related business. Supporters say it also would create more than 270 additional jobs locally.

Only city of Rome residents would be eligible to vote since it deals specifically with businesses within city limits. As of June 1, some 13,574 Rome residents were eligible to vote.

WHAT'S NEXT: A related part of the issue comes before the City Commission on Aug. 16.

IF PASSED NOV. 2: Sunday sales could begin, technically, seven days later or by Nov. 14

PREVIOUS COVERAGE BELOW

(7/22) ACC VOTE FOLLOWS CAREFUL QUESTIONING

The potential volatility of the proposed limited Sunday alcohol sales initiative was obvious from the start of Thursday's  Rome Alcohol Control Committee meeting.

The Sam King Room at City Hall was packed. Other pouring licenses and requests on the agenda were reviewed and those involved quickly excused themselves.

Chairman Kim Canada then turned to the Sunday sales issue and reminded the crowd that Thursday's meeting was not a public hearing. That opportunity, he said, would come if the committee sent the proposal to the entire City Commission for review.

For now, Canada said, only the group behind the drive--Greater Rome's hospitality industry--was allowed to speak. A slight buzz was heard before Mike Morse, general manager of Holiday Inn Skytop and group spokesman, presented the proposed referendum to committee members.

Morse presented committee members with a five-page handout complete with bulleted points on the pros of limited Sunday sales, a list of which cities and communities had or didn't have Sunday sales, the names of 51 local hospitality businesses and then an article from the Web site of WALB TV in Albany about how DUI arrests had dropped in the year since the community adopted restrictive Sunday sales.

WHAT SUPPORTERS ARE SAYING

Morse's comments and handout included these points:

-How important tourism is to Georgia and Greater Rome's economy (employing 2,770 people locally and having a total county economic impact of nearly $83 million in 2002).

-That the referendum would be a city-only vote, would limit pouring to establishments with a 50-50 or greater food-to-alcohol sales ratio, would NOT permit Sunday package sales and would follow state-mandated sales hours, 12:30 p.m. to midnight on Sundays.

-That servers at restaurants, State Mutual Stadium and elsewhere constantly are asked by patrons why Sunday sales are prohibited.

-That both local and visitor dollars leave town on Sundays to nearby communities where they can get a drink with a meal.

-That conventions and sports-related events would extend their stay through Sunday or arrive on a Sunday rather than a Monday if able to get a drink with meals.

-That Rome might have an even better chance of landing a South Atlantic League all-star game (a three-day event that usually starts Sundays with a reception).

-That Rome, the state's 14th largest city, is the only one that forbids Sunday sales (Valdosta has a special entertainment zone that allows Sunday sales).

-That Sunday sales would boost the city's taxes paid by liquor distributors and consumers by a sixth.

-That the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce's board of directors is encouraging the City Commission to allow voters to decide the issue.

THE COMMITTEE'S QUESTIONS

Committee members raised several questions and issues during and after Morse's presentation.

-Canada asked whether the hospitality industry had considered whether some patrons would avoid establishments serving alcohol on Sunday in protest to any change. Morse responded by saying some local patrons are eager for the change.

-Canada also said Rome has "done pretty good" so far by not governing itself by outsiders' desires. Morse said the community has changed since the most recent vote--soundly defeated in 2000--and added, "As we continue to growth, these demands will increase."

-Commissioner Buzz Wachsteter reminded the committee that the hospitality industry is about "accommodating other people's wishes."

-Commissioner Jamie Doss said the community was able to lure the Rome Braves to town without Sunday sales (you could buy beer at Sunday Macon Braves' games). The Braves are in support of the Sunday sales initiative and would be allowed, if passed to voters, to sell alcohol at Sunday games because of the food-to-alcohol ratio setup.

-Doss also questioned the 50-50 food-to-alcohol sales ratio, a must for any restaurant or business hoping to pour drinks on Sundays. Morse said most restaurants have an even greater food-to-alcohol ratio, pointing to Holiday Inn Skytop which serves guests up to three meals a day.

-Doss, responding to Morse's statement that Sunday sales would increase business, perhaps near the level of Friday and Saturday nights, said, "Things are not as busy on Sunday... I find that to be pleasant."

Morse responded d by saying "cities around us have it" and that "the playing field has not remained level" because of Sunday sales.

THE VOTE AND WHAT'S NEXT

Wachsteter made the motion to pass the issue to the full City Commission for review and public hearings. It was seconded by Committee Member Martha Bryant. After a few more questions (all addressed above), the committee members unanimously voted to do so.

Following the vote, Canada again talked to the crowd about the issue. His points:

-They need to contact the city clerk's office by early next Thursday if they wish to appear before the City Commission on Aug. 2 to argue for or against the proposal. (Call 236-4460).

-That because the issue is before city voters only, comments most likely would be restricted to city residents.

For now, the issue will be placed on the Aug. 2 agenda (the meeting begins at 6:30 and is preceded by a caucus at 6 p.m.

It would again be reviewed at the Aug. 16 City Commission meeting and, if commissioners agree, the referendum would be placed on the Nov. 2 general election ballot for voters to decide.

EXPANDING THE DEBATE

Hometown Headlines is encouraging those both in favor of and opposed to the proposed amendment to submit guest columns and letters of comment to this site for posting.

E-mails must include their full name and whether they are a resident of the city of Rome or other parts of the county. No form letters/e-mails will  be accepted; only those in the writer's own name and verse. The e-mailer must send proof that he or she represents more than himself or herself (i.e., writes on behalf of any organization).

We'll accept e-mails only. It is the writer's responsibility to ensure all the information in their letter is correct. Letters with information that is incorrect will be returned for correction or for the sender to withdraw. The reason: we do not believe your letters should be accompanied by "editor's notes."

We will post these letters and columns on a separate page or pages devoid of any unrelated advertising. Is is not our intent to draw site advertisers into this debate (although their letters and columns will graciously be accepted). We will, however, accept both pro and con advertisements regarding this issue both on our regular pages and on our special letters pages. The same ad rates apply to these pages as they do to all our other pages. (Click HERE for details).

In coming days, we will post an electronic version of the proposed referendum for your review. We also will link to any and all minutes of meetings relating to this topic. If requested, we will post those minutes on this site as well.

FINALLY, A CAVEAT: The owners and editor of this site do not live in the city of Rome and therefore will not be able to vote should the issue be put on the Nov. 2 ballot. However, we are in favor of this issue being put to city voters and, indeed, we support the concept as it is currently presented.

We state this now because we want to ensure opponents are strict task masters in ensuring all sides have equal and adequate voice in this issue. Your comments can be directly to John Druckenmiller by e-mailing druck@hometownheadlines.com.

We understand stating our personal position up front is something a bit different in media circles but we feel it is necessary and critical to guarantee accountability. Indeed, it might even cost us some advertising. That, too, is part of the process.