Customers of Richmond Hill restaurants will be able to purchase alcohol on Sundays while dining starting Dec. 7.
The ordinance for Sunday sales for restaurants and caterers received final approval from city council on Nov. 4. Upon the request of city manager Mike Melton, the condition was added where the law will take effect Dec. 1, therefore allowing sales to begin on Sunday, Dec. 7.
Melton said this is to allow time to screen applicants and do the necessary paperwork.
In addition to Sunday sales, the ordinance also requires that employees of every business in the city that sells alcohol, restaurants and stores alike, carry an “alcoholic beverage card,” designed to closely monitor that no one with criminal charges related to drugs, prostitution or illegal alcohol sales is serving alcohol in the city.
Police Chief Billy Reynolds said a driving factor in creating this rule is to deter alcohol sales to minors.
With Richmond Hill's new ordinance allowing alcohol on Sundays goes bar cards, apparently.
But not until the first of the year.
In response to a question from Molly MacPherson’s owner Daniel Cloutier, RHPD Chief Billy Reynolds said alcoholic beverage cards will not be enforced until 2009. He said this should allow ample time for individuals to apply for and purchase their cards.
Liquor by the drink on Sundays in Richmond Hill restaurants will begin on Dec. 7 - the first Sunday in the month.
RHPD Cpl. Susan Willis said employees can apply for an alcoholic beverage card by filling out the paperwork Monday through Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and can pick up their card the following Friday during the same hours.
The applicant will need to pay $10, which includes a background check. See a sample application and further details at www.rhpd.org.
In other business
- Melton said work on the Richmond Hill Conference Center is coming along more rapidly than was anticipated. He said the foundation is set and the site is ready for construction.
The final contract and financing package, in conjunction with J.T. Turner Construction, is slated to be presented at the next council meeting.
- Melton said railroad repair work will block the flow of traffic on Hwy. 144 from Nov. 15 through Nov. 18. The crossing is the one nearest The Bottom. Westbound traffic on Ga. 144 will be detoured to Timber Trail Road and then Harris Trail Road to U.S. 17 and back to Ga. 144. Eastbound traffic will be detoured to U.S. 17 to Harris Trail Road to Timber Trail Road and back to Ga. 144.
Council agreed that it is not the best time to close the road, but the work needs to be done. Melton said this was the only close available time for Riceboro Southern Railway, LLC to do the improvements.