Sunday Sales Added to March Ballot

The is meeting at 9 a.m. in the boardroom at off Marietta Square. The top item on the agenda is a proposal to let Cobb County citizens vote in March on whether to allow package alcohol sales on Sundays. We're using CoverItLive to, well, cover it live; jump in and join the conversation.

Commission Chairman Tim Lee presented a measure to the board to approve a resolution on Sunday sales, and no one else commented before the board voted unanimously in favor, 4-0.

Lee's comments indicated that he sounded out his fellow commissioners about the proposal before bringing it before the public and knew they would agree.

By holding the Sunday-sales vote at the same time as the presidential primary, the county won't face any additional election costs, as it did when it held a special election to vote on the SPLOST this year. The estimated cost of that special election was $400,000.

Here's the resolution the commissioners approved today:

Resolution calling for a referendum to allow the citizens of Cobb County, Georgia, to vote on whether to authorize retailers to sell malt beverages, wine and distilled spirits by package on Sundays between the hours of 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. effective June 1, 2012.
Whereas, Cobb County, Georgia (“Cobb County”) is body corporate and politic pursuant to Georgia law; and
Whereas, the General Assembly of the State of Georgia has enacted legislation, codified at O.C.G.A. § 3-3-7(q), authorizing counties to permit and regulate retail package sales of malt beverages, wine and distilled spirits on Sundays between the hours of 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. if such sales are approved in a referendum by the electors of the County in an election called and conducted in a manner authorized under O.C.G.A. § 21-2-540; and
Whereas, the Board of Commissioners of Cobb County, in compliance with law, wishes to provide an opportunity for the citizens of Cobb County to vote their desires with respect to such package sales of malt beverages, wine, and distilled spirits on Sundays;
Now, therefore, be it resolved, that Cobb County shall conduct a referendum as authorized by O.C.G.A. § 3-3-7(q) to determine whether the voters desire Cobb County to permit and regulate retail package sales of malt beverages, wine, and distilled spirits on Sundays between the hours of 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., said referendum to be called in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 21-2-540 and any and all other applicable laws, and that the election superintendent shall issue the call and conduct the election on March 6, 2012, in the manner so authorized.
The ballots to be used in the election shall have written or printed thereon substantially the following:
Shall the governing authority of Cobb County, Georgia be authorized to permit and regulate package sales by retailers of malt beverages, wine, and distilled sprits on Sundays between the hours of 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.?
(    ) YES   (    ) NO