Carl’s newly adopted alcohol ordinance was back on the table for discussion, this time considering excise tax and distance regulations.
According to state law, distilled spirits may not be sold within 100 yards of a church and within 200 yards of a school. Similarly, wine and malt beverages may not be sold within 100 yards of a school.
However, nothing in state law prevents the sale by a licensee for consumption on property. This means that by the drink, where consumers may be regulated, state distances don’t apply.
As far as taxing, the ordinance states that a 3 percent tax shall be imposed on distilled spirits and that comes from the licensee. For beer, it equals five cents per 12-ounce can and 22 cents per liter of wine, which comes from the distributor upon purchase.
Since Carl’s ordinance was passed by the drink, Carl must tax each time a drink is poured. The seller of the poured drink collects the tax. For beer and wine sales, the tax is received from the distributors and on distilled spirits, it’s received from the proprietors.
The city may not collect on liquor package sales because liquor package sales are not allowed in the ordinance.
COUNCIL MEMBER PAY DISCUSSED
After breaching the topic last month, Carl revisited the idea of denying pay to the mayor and the council if a meeting is missed.
Each meeting, the council receives $60 and the mayor receives $100.
Review of state law was required to determine if the council could deny pay legally, and nothing is included in the law that prevents council members from being paid less.
“I was a proponent of the increase for this governing body so that it would make it worthwhile for folks to take time out of their day and bring their families out to a meeting,” Mayor Dave Brock said. “I realize we don’t have a lot of call in between meetings to justify big salaries of a big city where people are on you all the time.”
Existing code ordinances in Carl state that council members are to attend each meeting and if a meeting is missed, an explanation is to be given at the following meeting. At that time, the council will determine if the explanation warranted missing a meeting and if so, they will still receive pay.
“There are illnesses, there are sicknesses, there are deaths, there’s, you know, acts of God (and) unpreventable, unforeseeable events in our lives that restrict us from doing our civic duty,” Brock said. “But those - in my opinion - should be the only things that stop us from being here.”
The council held no discussion on the issue, however at last month’s meeting, all members except Rebecca Knight were in favor of losing pay if a meeting is missed.
No action was required.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business at Thursday’s Carl City Council meeting:
•Brock said that he met with representatives from Piedmont Regional Library about grant possibilities for the Carl Library. Currently, Carl makes a lump payment to Piedmont for the library.
Representatives told Brock the city could make payments in any amount Carl deems appropriate in order to take some of the financial burden off the town.
The mayor said the council could consider establishing a Friends of the Carl Library group and seek donations as another option. Brock said he would continue seeking alternative forms of funding for the library.
•the Special Project Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) Roads balance was reported to be $9,854 for April. The SPOLOST Recreation balance for April was $10,280.
•Knight told the council that there are teenagers at the Carl Park after dark. It’s posted that the park closes at dusk and the council said it would consider posting the hours of operation in a more visible location.
•the council approved a contract with Waste Pro for an extension in the time Waste Pro will serve the city.
•a variance approval for Doc McGee’s was tabled because the applicant did not get all material into the county in time for a public hearing.
