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Sunday package sales begins this weekend in Dawsonville
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The referendum deciding the fate of retail packaged alcohol sales on Sundays passed handily in Dawsonville Nov. 8. But two weeks later, would-be customers and even some store employees were confused about when the new law would go into effect.

The approved referendum gave a legal thumbs up to Sunday sales in the Dawsonville city limits between the hours of 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

The effective date for the new law in Dawsonville, contingent on its passage at the polls last week, was actually determined back in August by the City Council - Nov. 15, 2011.

Documentation of an ordinance or resolution approved by the local governing authority was required in order for the question to be placed on a referendum. The Dawsonville City Council passed an ordinance unanimously on Aug. 1.

In keeping with the local control granted by the state legislature last spring on this issue, cities and counties are free to implement the new law on a date of their choosing. Nov. 15 is the earliest date the council could have chosen for implementation because vote counts could not be certified before then. Elections officials had to give overseas ballots three days beyond Election Day to come in by mail, and, with no mail running on Veterans Day, that made Monday, Nov. 14, the earliest day possible to certify votes.

In Dawsonville, that means the law took effect yesterday and the first legal Sunday sales day will be this Sunday, Nov. 20. Many cities will have to wait for first and second readings at once-a-month council meetings, pushing implementation dates out to January - or beyond.

Ibrahim Akbarshahi, owner of the Dawsonville Exxon Food Mart on Highway 53 just west of downtown Dawsonville, will begin ringing up packaged beer and wine at his store Sunday. Besides offering convenience to his regular customers, he is eager to end the frustration of tourist customers unfamiliar with Georgias more restrictive alcohol laws.

City Liquor of Dawsonville on Highway 53 West will be open Sundays beginning this week, too. Co-owner Russell Marcotte says only time will tell whether being open seven days a week will be profitable. But he believes he may have enough of a competitive edge to give it a try. With the exception of Gainesville, City Liquor is surrounded by cities and counties that have not voted on Sunday sales - yet.

Food Lion grocery store and Kangaroo Express convenience store, both located on Highway 53 E, will each offer Sunday package sales soon, if not this week. But neither was sure at presstime when their Sunday sales start-dates will be. The stores have initiated the internal processes at their North Carolina corporate headquarters for cash registers to be programmed to accept Sunday alcohol sales.

Andy Sam, manager of the BP convenience store on Highway 9 in Dawsonville, has no plans to offer Sunday sales to his customers.

Community Events
6 variances approved by board
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The Dawson County Board of Commissioners Thursday said yes to six of seven variances that will bring Dawson Marketplace one step closer to reality.

"Dawson Marketplace wants to vary from the stipulations given to them by the Board of Commissioners in 2007," Rachel Burton, director of planning and zoning for Dawson County said.

Documents indicate Dawson Marketplace approved variances include:

varying the minimum setback from the right-of-way for Georgia 400 to 90 feet from 100 feet; vary the building facade composition from 80 percent to 50 percent; varying the maximum number of off-street parking spaces to one per 50 square feet of gross floor space; varying the number of monument signs from one to five; varying signage for multi-tenant buildings from two to one and allowing for minor signs, and varying the screening of mechanical equipment from the street for only rear facades facing Lumpkin Campground Road.

The board denied the variance for wall signage with the stipulation that it could be addressed at a later date.

Separately, the board approved two agenda items pertaining to the Margie Weaver Senior Center: a request to hold a raffle and an addendum to the FY 2016 Legacy Link contract.

"Dawson County contracts with Legacy Link each year for our meal service for our seniors," Senior Centor Director Dawn Pruett said. "They are our facilitator for funding for state and federal grants. We are in a district with Hall, Lumpkin, Forsyth and a few others. This is an addendum to the contract that was originally approved months ago."

In other county business, the following requests passed by unanimous vote:

Dawson County Emergency Services Director Billy Thurmond was granted approval of the Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Grant. Each county in Georgia is required to update their hazard mitigation plan and have it approved by GEMA and FEMA. By doing so, Dawson would be eligible for federal and state funding in the event of a disaster declaration. The total amount is $24,000 ($18,000 federal, $2,400 state, $3,600 county in-kind).

"The grant allows us to be eligible for funding in the event of an emergency like we had last February with the ice," Thurmond said.

Lori VanSickle and Duane Wallace were appointed to the Dawson County Library Board by the commissioners, replacing Kay Black and Eydie Stegall, respectively. VanSickle brings twenty years of leadership and management experience to the board. Wallace has been a licensed counselor for nearly fifteen years both professionally and in a volunteer capacity.

October has been proclaimed 'Clean Water Month' and Dawson County citizens are encouraged to participate in "Imagine A Day Without Water" Oct. 6-8. Other observances include River Clean-up Oct. 14 and Shore Sweep for Lake Lanier Oct. 27, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at War Hill Park.

Separately, the issue of a new fire station was addressed on behalf of Sandra Bryan, a resident of Rainbow Lake Dr. Bryan's residence received a fire rating of 10 due to its considerable distance from a fire station. The implication for those who receive a rating of 10 is higher insurance costs.

Anybody that is beyond five road miles from any of Dawson County's eight fire stations is classified as a ten, according to Thurmond.

"When and if we build a fire station at the Etowah water tank on Elliott Family Parkway, Ms. Bryan would be within the limits," Thurmond said. "We have property, but we don't have funds."

The Board will meet next on Thursday, Sept. 24 in the Assembly Room of the Dawson Government Center, 25 Justice Way at 4 p.m.