GAINESVILLE - There have been no applications yet in Hall County for businesses that want to sell growlers, but county commissioners want to be pro-active and amend the county's alcohol code now.<br />
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Business License Director Susan Rector at a Monday afternoon work session presented the Hall County Commission with three suggested changes for the county alcohol code, including the addition of the classification of growlers.<br />
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Rector said after the session that it is only a matter of time before someone wants to sell tap beer in growlers in Hall County.<br />
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"It's just something that has recently become more popular and we've had several people inquire about it," said Rector. "The city of Gainesville has done it [amended its ordinance] - the local folks have expressed the desire for there to be more."<br />
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The other changes include the quarterly pro-rating of annual fees for new applications.<br />
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Plus, there is also a new fee for all-inclusive farm wineries that would include manufacturing, sales by package, sales by consumption and tasting room fees. <br />
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"When you combine all those fees that are currently in our code, it comes up to over $4,000," said Rector. "The Commission just felt that...would overburden the owner of the establishment."<br />
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Under the new fee structure, the all-inclusive fee would be $2,000.<br />
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First reading on the changes comes at Thursday night's regular commission meeting at the Hall County Government Center on Browns Bridge Road. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. <br />
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