New ordinance
The new ordinance reads:The city may require each applicant to submit to the police department such information as may be required by the Georgia Crime Information Center and by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, including classifiable sets of fingerprints, and such fees as may be set by the Georgia Crime Information Center and by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a records check comparison by the Georgia Crime Information Center and by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. An application for a pouring permit under this chapter shall constitute consent for performance of a records check comparison.
The Ringgold City Council is tweaking the process for serving alcohol in restaurants within city limits. The unanimously approved change to the related city ordinance brings the process more in line with Georgia state law.
“The old city ordinance required the servers to wait on their individual background investigation before serving alcohol,” said Councilman Larry C. Black. “It was a hardship on the businesses, because sometimes it took four months for approval.”
In some cases, by the time an individual’s background check came back, the server might not still be working there, he said, and the council felt it was unfair to the business owner.
“The owner and/or the manager has to submit a FBI background check and be approved before they are allowed to have their [alcohol] license,” Black added. “After the business is approved, the servers can begin dispensing alcohol with a valid pour permit.
“Now they can make application to City Manager Dan Wright and to Police Chief Dan Bilbrey,” he said in regards to the servers.
Wright explained that the state does not require servers submit fingerprints to the Georgia or Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“That requirement is only made by state law of the restaurant owner and manager,” he said.
Councilman Randall Franks stressed that, “The businesses still have to meet the utmost requirement under the law.” The was process merely “streamlined so our businesses are not at a disadvantage.”
Email Katie Ward at kward@timesfreepress.com.