Georgia Winery owner Patty Prouty on Tuesday asked the Lookout Mountain, Ga. City Council to consider amending an ordinance or grant a variance to allow a wine tasting room and sales of their wines only at the popular tourist attraction, Rock City.
The council gave her hope that if the council could consider the proposal over the next month, they might give her a positive response. City Attorney Bill Pickering said he would look at similar ordinances in other cities and tourist attractions.
The Georgia Winery was established 28 years ago and is headquartered in Ringgold. It is a family-owned and operated facility producing award-winning fine wines from organically grown muscadines.
Ms. Prouty said the tasting center would be similar to ones they now operate in Helen, Dahlonega and Dillard, Ga. This is not a liquor store, she said, but will only be selling the business's own wines and wine accessories. A tasting room brings prestige to a community and the exposure at Rock City would good for the winery, she said.
The council could amend existing ordinances that now limit alcohol sales to the commercial district. Alcohol consumption in tourist areas is currently allowed. Ms. Pouty said she has contacted the state for guidance and the state would allow a variance of an ordinance or a declaration letter that exempts farm wineries from the ordinance. Attorney Pickering agreed that exempting ‘farm wineries’ would work as opposed to exempting just Georgia Winery.
Members of the council spoke in tentative agreement of the proposal but noted that two council members were absent and may want to be heard before a vote is taken. Mayor Bill Glascock agreed and said it would be good for the council to consider this for the next month and place it on the agenda for the meeting in March.
In other business, the council approved a motion to match funds raised by volunteer firefighters in the Lookout Mountain Fire Department up to $5,000 in this fiscal year. The volunteer firefighters had sent a letter making the request to Fire and Police Commissioner David Bennett.
The letter noted that 18 members of the department have no turnout gear at all. Also, a number of veteran firefighters have improper gloves or no gloves at all. The problem came to light on Dec. 19, when volunteer firefighters responded to a chimney fire. The first two responders had no turnout gear and therefore could not enter the fire scene. Other firefighters soon arrived and controlled the situation without loss of property, but the situation could have had disastrous results, the letter implied.
Firefighters established a non-profit organization in November 2010 for the purpose of raising funds for the purchase of needed equipment. A recent boot drive also raised additional funds. The total raised to date is approximately $2,000, Mr. Bennett said. “I would like to see the city approve matching funds up to $5,000,” he said.
Mayor Glascock said the city really needs the volunteers and they are totally committed to their job. The matching funds would come from SPLOST funds, he said.
The council approved, on first reading, a motion to adopt new provisions in the stormwater erosion and sediment control ordinance. Catherine Fox, the city’s consultant for waste and stormwater issues, had notified Attorney Pickering of the state’s requirement for all cities adopting the latest provisions.
Mayor Glascock asked the council to consider a $15,000 purchase of a brush chipper for the public works department. This is different from a grinder or mulching machine, he said. The chipper provides a consistent size of wood chips that are suitable for landscaping use. The wood chips would be available to the residents for free. Signal Mountain has a similar system and it is widely popular, he said.
Attorney Pickering said the purchase proposal would have to be bid, so he will help draw up a request for bids and bring it to the next meeting.
Kenneth Hailey and Tim Cocker were re-nominated to five-year terms on the Board of Zoning and Appeals.
Dana Wilbourn
dbwilbourn@yahoo.com