Alcohol license sparks council debate

A debate over an alcohol permit request quickly drowned out a hefty agenda at the Hartwell City Council meeting Feb. 5.

Lake Hartwell Family Fun Center, a new business scheduled to open in early May at 25 Depot St., petitioned the council to receive the permit.

Speaking on behalf of the business owner Laura Winegar was her husband John Winegar who explained the facility would offer arcade style games, and a party room.

“We’re very excited to open up Lake Hartwell Family Fun Center,” Winegar said. I’m new to Hartwell and even with me being new here I already know there is no other place around to give kids a good place to go.”

Winegar stated on one end of the facility there would be an enclosed area for adults which was the reason for applying for a beer and wine license.

The permit was initially well received by the council. Mayor Brandon Johnson stated it was a pretty cool venue and he wished them success.

“I can’t say to a Dave and Busters, but I would assume it’s got the same kind of feel,” Johnson  said. “A little food and a little fun. We need something for the kids.”

Johnson mentioned the request was reviewed by Hartwell Chief of Police Anthony Davis who said it looked good.

Mayor Pro Tempe Tray Hicks made a motion to approve the request, and Johnson asked if the public had any comment.

“The family fun center sounds great, and it’s a great idea, but my question is why would you want to incorporate alcohol?” Hartwell resident April Haywood asked.

Winegar noted that the alcohol would only be available outside of the arcade gaming area in the party room or enclosed bar.

“We know it’s not a perfect situation, and we have a lot of stuff to do to make things safe for kids,” Winegar said.

The clarification did not appease Haywood.

“It still doesn’t make any sense because it’s same building,” Haywood said. “Lets say a child goes to the bathroom and a drink is on the table. We as adults cannot watch a child 100% of the time. What if a child went to the bathroom pick the drink up, drink it and then become intoxicated so how are we gonna handle.”

Winegar stated the facility’s bathrooms were located in the gaming center where no alcohol was allowed. Furthermore, he said no child under the age of 14 could be left unattended in his establishment.

Several council members came to the defense of approving the alcohol license.

“The same circumstances can be had at any bar and restaurant here in Hartwell, councilman Dan Leard said. “I get it. It is a family fun center and there is family in the title but if an adult has an opportunity to have a beverage that’s fine.”

Councilman Hicks took it a step further.

“There is also a misconception here,” Hicks said. “Disneyland, Six Flags, Great Wolf Lodge, Big Air, and Chuck-E-Cheese are all places I go with my kids and all of those places serve alcohol.

This is 2024. Alcohol is there. It’s our responsibility as citizens and grown adults to mind ourselves and mind our children.”

Councilman Zach Adams had problems with the name of the facility being associated with alcohol.

“The name is family fun center,” Adams said. “That’s the difference between these other restaurants. My only reservation would be the title of family fun center but there is alcohol served there.”

Winegar quickly rebutted Adam’s assertion.

“I think you can still have a beer and enjoy time with your kids,” Winegar said.

The council approved the alcohol license by a 5-1 vote with Adams serving as the lone nay vote.

Furthermore, the council took up a first reading on an annexation request by Charles Pierce. Pierce submitted the application to be annexed into the city to Hartwell’s planning and zoning board before the petition was reviewed by the Hart County Board of Commissioners during their meeting Jan. 23.

During the Jan. 23 meeting, county attorney Kim Higginbotham stated the annexation of the piece of property into the city would create an unincorporated island. Based on this, the county voted to object to the annexation packet. The objection passed 4-1, with commissioner Frankie Teasley abstaining.

Hartwell’s Community Development Director Jason Ford disagreed with the BOC’s interpretation.

“The county said it created an island,” Ford said. “We disagreed with that. The standard for being an island is that it has to be all the way encompassed by municipal property, but then also the county would have to have reasonable physical access is what the statute said.”

Ford said the property fit all of the standards for what the city’s zoning board requires. As such, the board voted to annex the property and zone it R1 as a single family residential zone.

“It meets all of the qualifications for annexation,” Ford said.

Ford also stated once the county objects to an annexation they have 45 calendar days to notify both the city and the Georgia Department of Community Affiars (DCA).

“The county took action to object, but to my knowledge as of Friday they had not properly notified DCA of their objection,” Ford said. “We are now beyond the 45 calendar day mark.”

Pierce also stated he had not been made aware of the county’s objection.

“I have not been notified nor my council been notified of any objection,” Pierce said. “I heard a rumor that they objected at their last meeting, but I do not know.”

Additionally, city manager Jon Herschell outlined a plan for the city to procure a new wood chipper truck.

Herschell said the city last purchased a diesel chipper back in 2017 that has been giving them “fits.”

“Usually diesel engines are pretty reliable, but it was down a lot last year, and down more than it was up,” Herschell said.

Herschell procured three quotes to purchase a new one and recommended AgPro as the vendor to use as they offered a $30,000 trade in on the city’s current chipper.

“AgPro gave us back a trade-in credit and offered us the Eager Beaver chipper, Herschell said. “That is the chipper that we were looking hard at, and they gave us the best price.”

Herschell stated the total net cost to the city would be $38,230 which is far less than the $70,000 dollars they allocated to replace the chipper in the city’s 2024 budget.

The city then approved several requests to sanction events.

Jessica Eppinger, founder of the non-profit Black Butterfly Society (BBS), addressed the council to petition for a Juneteenth parade to recognize the commemoration of the end of slavery.

The mission of BBS is to teach black excellence, empower womanhood, promote spiritual growth, and nurture potential and purpose for young black girls.

Eppinger said her organization exposes young black women to what life and culture looks like outside of Hartwell.

“My parents made sure I knew what life out of Hart County looks like, and I know a lot of young girls don’t get that opportunity,” Eppinger said.

Eppinger proposed the parade to be held June 15 and would run from Bell’s Shopping Center to Hart County High School.

As June 15 falls on a Saturday, councilman Mike McNabb addressed one logistical concern.

“I don’t have any problem with the parade, but I’d wish you’d change the parade from Saturday to Sunday,” McNabb said. “The parades on Saturday are retail killers. Regarding the businesses downtown every time we had a parade you might as well shut the doors.”

Eppinger agreed to move the parade to Sunday, June 16 at 2:00 p.m. and the council approved the request without objection.

The council also approved road closures for several future events including the Hartwell Makers Festival on Apr. 27, Cars and Guitars on May 25, The Hartwell Lakeside Music Festival May 25-26, the Pre-4th of July Celebration Jun. 29, and finally Depot Days and Hart Ober Fest on Oct. 19.

The council opened up its session by proclaiming the month of February as Black History Month in Hartwell.

Mayor Johnson read the proclamation which stood “to honor and highlight the accomplishments of African Americans.”