In Dalton, Ga. Manuel Cano looks at liquor sold at Cox's Spirits in this file photo. Staff Photo by Allison Carter/Chattanooga Times Free PressALSO READ
North Georgia cities set dates for alcohol sales
DALTON, Ga. -- Nearly two weeks after voters approved Sunday sales of alcohol in Dalton, the City Council amended city ordinances to reflect the change, paving the way for sales to begin on Dec. 4.
During their regular meeting Monday evening, the City Council also approved the first reading of changes to ordinances standardizing hours of liquor sales by the drink.
"Over the years, several ordinances were passed and there was a hodgepodge of different hours," said City Administrator Ty Ross after the vote. "This makes all the hours uniform."
Under the new ordinance, Sunday sales will be allowed from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday alcohol sales are allowed from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Whitfield County, Varnell and Tunnel Hill voters rejected Sunday sales on referendums but the town of Cohutta will also sell beer and wine on Sundays.
Mayor David Pennington said City Council members will meet in a special meeting next week to vote on a second reading of the ordinance in order to allow sales to begin on Dec. 4.
During Monday's meeting, Dalton Downtown Development Authority director Veronica French announced that Dalton's Christmas parade, scheduled to be held Dec. 1, will not be moved to Hamilton Street as originally planned.
At the request of Hamilton Street business owners, French had planned to complete the paperwork to move the parade from Thornton Avenue back to Hamilton after it was moved 10 years ago.
However, French told the mayor and council members that parade organizers told her they did not have enough time to coordinate the move this year.
"There are a lot of logistics involved -- the Lions Club asked us not to move it this year," French said. "Our goal is now to have everything in place to move it next year."
While discussing the parade, Pennington told French he wanted to meet with downtown business owners to discuss recent street closures. Some owners have complained that recent street closures for a race and other events have hurt their businesses.
French said she would arrange a public meeting to discuss the issue.
Contact staff writer Mariann Martin at mmartin@timesfreepress.com or 706-980-5824.