Rome City Commission: Bar Located Near Area Church Will Be Allowed To Serve Alcohol
On Monday night, the Rome City Commission listened to local attorney and property owner William H. Stoll as he addressed the commission as a guest during the city commission meeting.
Stoll appeared before the commission to ask that there be a review and/or appeal of last week’s decision by the Alcohol Control Commission (ACC) to allow a local bar to sell alcohol in the vicinity of a church.
On Monday, Jan. 25, the ACC granted a beer and wine pouring license at Rambo’s, 1817 N. Broad Street.
Stoll, who owns a building near the Rambo’s site, said he rents his building out to a church, which has a 10-year rental lease.
While Georgia state laws do not protect churches from beer or wine pouring establishments, they do offer a 300-feet protection buffer between churches and liquor-pouring establishments.
Rome’s city code, however, does require a 300-feet buffer from the entrance door of the beer pouring establishment to the nearest property line of any church, using legal routes.
However, the city code defines a church as a “free-standing building which is owned by the religious organization or association and primarily utilized for religious services, ceremonies or instructions.”
Since Stoll, not the religious organization, owns the church, the building would not be protected from area encroachment by beer and wine pouring establishments.
During the city commission meeting, Stoll asked the commission to “review the ordinance and possible change it.”
Rome Mayor Wright Bagby said the ACC would be asked to study his request.
However, Bagby said that any recommendation by the ACC and subsequent ruling by the Rome City Commission would “not affect this rule already made.”
In other business, the Rome City Commission:
Proclaimed the Rome Police Department’s PFC Melvin Scott as the Officer of the Year.
Approved an annexation request for property located on Chulio Road between Valley View Drive and Boyd Valley Road into the city of Rome.
Announced that the Rome City Commission Planning Retreat will be Feb 17 & 18 at Berry WinShape Center.
Authorize the mayor to consult with city attorneys and draft a letter, concerning the Rails For Trails project, to protect the city’s position and express the city’s sentiments toward support and completion of the project through Rome, Cave Spring and Floyd County.
The Rome City Commission meets again on Monday, Feb. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
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