Lee County meeting covers everything from beer to SPLOST
Lee commissioners approve alcohol license, boat landing signs, DARTS
File Photo
By Gypsy Crow
LEESBURG — How much pizza does one have to sell to be able to give out samples of beer in one’s own store?
That was a topic of debate at the Lee County Commission meeting on Tuesday, a question that was met with furrowed brows, shuffling stacks of legal papers and a type of math that would have made any algebra class more engaging.
The answer is, for the lack of a better word, unclear. The question was sparked by a request from Briiesh Patel, owner of the Creekside BP, for the board to grant him an alcohol license for consumption on-premises of malt beverages only and retail sales for off-premises consumption of malt beverages and wine. To summarize: Patel requested a license for his store to sell beer and wine and also to give out small samples of beer to customers to taste.
After some back-and-forth between the members of the board with no help from established city ordinances, County Attorney Jimmy Skipper advised that as long as Patel sells enough pizza, there wasn’t anything in the way of the board’s approval. One of the most positive board members in favor of Patel’s license approval was Commissioner Rick Muggridge.
“The store under Mr. Patel’s management has been an asset to the community,” Muggridge said.
The Board approved Patel’s request for an alcohol license five to zero.
Other items on the agenda that were approved included:
— A request from Sam Merritt, circuit public defender, for a six-month contract and budget for the office of the circuit public defender;
— A resolution authorizing the refunding of certain revenue bonds by the Lee County Utilities Authority and for other purposes;
— A resolution of agreement for Metropolitan Planning, Organization Host Services (DARTS/MPO — Dougherty Area Regional Transportation Study/Metropolitan Planning Organization);
— Budget amendment No. 2018-9, transferring funds to cover the cost of software for the Tax Commissioner;
— A motion to move forward with bid requests for Palmyra Fire Station improvements;
— Approval of names for two canoe and kayak landings: Muckalee Creek Landing and Forrester Parkway, and the Kinchafoonee Creek Landing at Highway 32. (Names are subject to change.)
County Co-manager Christie Dockery requested the board establish priority for road resurfacing. To prevent further damage to roads from other contractors, Dockery requested permission to contact all of the contractors and subcontractors for a meeting to explain the county’s expectations.
As of now, if a road curbing under contractor “A” is destroyed by contractor “B,” who could be building a house or business, contractor “A” is responsible for repairing the damage.
The board discussed a possible T-SPLOST tax for road improvements. For only a penny, the citizens of Lee County, and anyone who spends money in Lee County for that matter, would have a small part in improving the roads equally and fairly. The tax would result in everyone paying their fair share for a service that everyone uses. The commission voted to move forward with the next steps for T-SPLOST implementation.
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