City Leaders Discuss Distilled Spirits Ordinance

By REBECCA HAZEN
News Editor

The City of Trenton Board of Commissioners discussed options and what they would like to have regarding the distilled spirits ordinance during the Tuesday, Feb. 15 meeting.

Commissioner Mike Norris noted that he wanted to make sure that items such as lottery tickets and cigarettes would not be sold in the stores.

“A liquor store in my opinion needs to be just a liquor store. No one under 21 needs to even think about being in that store,” Norris said.

Norris also said that he wanted to make sure that the liquor store window was free of signage, so that when police officers drive by, they can see the cashier.

Commissioner Wooten noted that she was looking at other county’s ordinances and had spoken to other mayors.

“I think we should prohibit gaming machines. We don’t want it to turn into a big hangout,” Commissioner Monda Wooten said.

Wooten also asked about raising the license fee. Mayor Alex Case responded that the fee for a yearly license could be maxed out to $5,000.

“After we put a lot of these restrictions together, that would eliminate a lot of people. It will be a big investment,” Wooten said.

The commissioners will hold a workshop session on March 1 to further discuss the details of the ordinance.

“I ask the public to get with the commissioners and myself to ask us questions. That is what we are here for,” Case said.

Also, during the meeting the commissioners approved the purchase of items to enable the Jenkins Park bathrooms to be open year-round. These items include doors and insulation, electrical wiring services, and heat and air unit installation.

The purchase of five picnic tables was also approved for Jenkins Park. The picnic tables are handicap accessible. All the Jenkins Park items, to be purchased with SPLOST funds, totals $15,007.

The commissioners also approved the joint Trenton-Dade County Hazard Mitigation Plan. A public hearing about the plan was held prior to the start of the workshop session.

“When a disaster happens, we ask for help from the state and then the state asks for help from the federal government. Every six years or so we have to update these hazard mitigation plans,” Case explained.

The commissioners also approved a proclamation naming Georgia’s Arbor Day as Feb. 18.

Commissioner Norris reported that the Trenton Police Department answered 315 calls for service during the month of January. The police conducted 937 business checks, had five animal complaints, four domestic calls, 13 trespassing calls, 12 suspicious activity calls, and worked eight accidents. There were 148 traffic stops, which resulted in 88 citations. Collected fines for January were $15,991.50.

Commissioner Terry Powell reported that the community center was rented for 52 hours for the month of January, and there were six animal control work orders.

Commissioner Wooten reported on Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) money. The Street Department plans to pave West Crabtree Street with the funds, and then Lookout Circle.

Commissioner Lucretia Houts was absent. Case provided Houts’ report. There were 12 sewer calls and one sewer line inspection. There were six remodels in the city and five electrical and HVAC inspections. The fire department had 97 calls for the month of January.

Case gave the financial report. The general fund balance as of Jan. 31 was $659,846.99. There is $123,337 in the city’s savings account. The current amount of SPLOST funds is $83,189.30.

Jennifer Blair with Tree City USA reported that perennials bulbs were planted in Jenkins Park and along the first segment of Town Creek Trail.

Jane Dixon with the Alliance for Dade reported that the Alliance’s next Lunch and Learn event is Feb. 24. Dixon also noted that a career fair for students would be April 5 at Dade County High School.

The commissioners went into executive session to discuss personnel matters. The commissioners accepted the resignation and retirement of city employee Cindy Robertson. Her last day will be March 4. The city will put out an advertisement for the job opening.

The next City of Trenton Board of Commissioners meeting will be March 14.