The vote was 3-2, but thanks to Jason Woody, Gilita Carter and Susan Kiker, McCaysville voters will decide whether or not to allow liquor by the drink in the city’s restaurants.
The decision came at the conclusion of the city council’s regular meeting Tuesday, March 10, which had been moved to the former garage behind city hall in anticipation of a crowd.
About 50 people attended with many speaking, all but one of whom was in favor of putting the liquor question on a ballot.
The first to speak was restaurant owner Mike Galinski.
Saying he was “asking specifically for liquor by the drink,” to be put on the ballot, he said he heard from many citizens, employees and business owners who were angry with the council’s indication it would not do so.
Galinski addressed Councilman Billy Wayne Chastain’s personal situation the councilman had mentioned in a city council workshop, saying it would not happen today because of all the controls in place. He also noted that moonshine was likely the drink of choice at the time, a comparison to alcohol content then and now.
Chastain was quick to retaliate that “alcohol is the most addicting drug you can bring to anyone.” He said the council would “aide and albeit” the problem if it did what citizens asked.
Councilman Jason Woody countered that the council was just “voting to put in on a ballot.” Woody, Mayor Terry Arp and Police Chief Michael Earley all previously voiced support for a ballot question.
David Padgett, who identified himself as a life long McCaysville resident, said the right to vote is “one of the most basic parts of living in a democracy,” and the decision should “ultimately belong to the citizens of McCaysville.”
He reminded the council that “McCaysvile today is not the McCaysville of the 1970’s and 80’s.”
Another resident, Mary Walker, told the council, “You do not have the right to control what your citizens want.”
Woody then read a resolution that would put distilled spirits (liquor) by the drink on a ballot, and moved to approve the resolution. However, it died for lack of a second.
Councilwoman Susan Kiker, questioned the distance between Burra Burra on the River and Harbor Ministries in regard to Georgia law that requires a 100-yard separation between churches and places where distilled spirits are sold. She was told by Earley it was 123 yards. She said she wanted a professional surveyor to measure the distance.
She was challenged by a member of the audience saying, “aren’t you putting the cart before the horse,” and pointed out the official distance measurement would be required with the permitting process.
Another citizen told the council it was “disgusting” for any of them to call themselves a public servant and deny citizens the right to vote. “A vote against allowing a person the right to vote is unAmerican,” he said.
Matthew Cole encouraged the council to think of putting liquor by the drink on the ballot “as a vote for jobs. Restaurant jobs make other jobs,” he said.
With council members silent, Arp spoke. He talked of his daughter (Abby Lanni) who has served for 18-and-a-half years in the U.S. Army, including three overseas tours, “to fight for our rights...It’s a shame not to give everybody the right...My kid worked awful hard for that.”
Lanni was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan, and Operation Freedom Sentinel-Afghanistan. She is currently a lieutenant colonel. “I’m thankful she’s still alive,” Arp said.
Earley also spoke briefly referring to the pledge he and those in his department took to defend the U.S. Constitution.
Afterwards, Woody again made a motion in support of the resolution calling for the vote. The council remained quiet, and citizens continued their demand for a ballot question, one saying council members should “leave their personal feelings at the door...you cannot legislate morals.”
Carter then seconded Woody’s motion and Kiker joined them with a “yes” vote. A “no” vote was not called, but neither Chastain nor Larry Collis had voted in favor.
The question will be put before McCaysville voters at the same time as the state General Primary/Non-Partisan Election, May 19.
Council members will hold a workshop Thursday, March 26, at 7 p.m. to prepare an ordinance in the event voters give their approval during the election.
When the workshop was being discussed, and Wednesday was being considered, it was pointed out it was church night and the question was asked if it would effect anyone. Chastain quipped, “not in this crowd,” to which he was immediately challenged by a member of the audience with, “That’s not a nice thing to say.” During a back and forth, she told the councilman his remark was “not Christian-like.”