Lee officials consider ‘growler’ beer tap station

LEESBURG — Lee County commissioners will consider amending the county’s alcohol beverage ordinance in response to a request from a convenience store owner who wants to open a “growler” location.

Chief building official Joey Davenport, who works in the Lee Planning Department, presented the request to county commissioners on Tuesday.

“I was approached by a local business owner with this rather peculiar request,” Davenport said. “Our ordinances don’t cover this.”

Davenport said the request came from a convenience store owner at the corner of Kinchafoonee Creek Road and U.S. Highway 19.

Growler stations are growing in popularity, especially in college towns such as Athens. They offer tap or craft beers and/or wine poured at the station into a capped or sealed container. Now that the craft beer industry is growing in the South, new growler stations are popping up at several locations in Atlanta and throughout the state.

Davenport told commissioners that the convenience store is being torn down and that the owner intends to build a new store featuring the growler station that would offer alcoholic beverages on tap.

“I think we may have to amend our alcohol beverage ordinance because I have not seen this kind of request before,” he said. “Essentially it would be for a beer tap installed inside a convenience store, which would offer craft beer dispensed into sealed containers.”

County Attorney Jimmy Skipper said he would look at the current ordinance and the board would then need to decide whether to amend it.

“Even if it is allowed at the state level, we would need a local ordinance,” the attorney said.

Commissioner Billy Mathis said he is aware of growler stations growing in popularity around Atlanta and Athens.

“They have them all over Athens,” he said. “The closest one to us is in Valdosta. I’d like to see us keep up with the times and approve it.”

Commissioner Rick Muggridge did not comment on the growler request, but he did say he would like to see a new store built at that location.

No action was taken on the issue until further research is completed.

Also at the meeting, interim Public Safety Director Wesley Wells recognized Lee County’s paramedic and firefighter of the year, who were honored by the Exchange Club of Albany last week.

Jason Warren was named Firefighter of the Year, and Chris Laramore was chosen as Paramedic of the Year. Wells said both men have been cross-trained to serve as firefighters and as paramedics. They were selected for special recognition by their peers.

“It was a hard decision because everyone has worked very hard this year,” said Wells.

The Public Safety department recognizes its outstanding employees each year during Fire Prevention Week. In addition to employee recognition, community outreach events are planned at Lee County schools to teach young people about fire safety.

Firefighters also intend to install and test smoke alarms and to warn seniors about space heaters and proper use of extension cords.

The theme for this year’s Fire Safety Prevention Week is “Every Second Counts, Plan Two Ways Out.”

“I will see over 1,200 students this week in our outreach to pre-K through 10-year-olds,” said Fire Safety Educator Kyle Lentz. “We hope we can provide good information about smoke alarms and about having escape plans. And we hope (students) will take that information back home to their parents.”

As for the elderly, Lentz said special efforts are being made to visit homes and to check smoke alarms to make sure they have fresh batteries and are in good working order.

“Many of our seniors know about them, but they can’t reach the alarms to check the batteries,” Lentz said. “After we recently lost two seniors in a house fire, we are focusing on the elderly. If we just save one home and one life, it is worth it.”