Monday, May 8, 2023–8:26 p.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
The Rome City Commission voted 8-to-0 Monday to suspend the liquor license at Peaches on Broad Street for three months.
Stephanie Shaw, the licensee at Peaches was called before the Rome Alcohol Control Commission amid concerns that the establishment was not meeting the food-to-drink ratio. Peaches can still sell beer and wine.
During their pre-meeting caucus, the commission heard from Billy Cooper who serves on the ACC.
He said it may be time to do away with the food requirement. There has been discussion about Rome City Clerk Joe Smith looking into the food-to-drink ratio in similar-sized cities.
Prior to the vote to suspend the Peaches license, Commissioner Jamie Doss said now was not the time to debate the food-to-drink ratio.
“We have an ordinance on the books,” he said. “Either we support it or we don’t. It’s more than just a food drink or overconsumption, it’s a privilege license. There’s a lot more to it and we have a responsibility to this city.”
Commissioner Craig McDaniel made a motion to have the suspension begin on May 15 instead of immediately.
That motion passed by a 5-to-3 vote with Commissioners Mark Cochran, Jim Bojo, and Elaina Beeman voting ‘no.’
Commission approves resolution for Redmond bonds
The Rome City Commission has approved a resolution regarding the issuance of no more than $200,000,000 in bonds being sought by AdventHealth Redmond.
The approval does not constitute an endorsement or an obligation on behalf of the city to pay back the bonds.
According to assistant city attorney John Hawkins, there is an Internal Revenue Service regulation that requires hospitals to go through the local government body anytime they want to do a bond issue.
“That doesn’t mean that the government unit is on the hook at all for the bonds,” he said. “They are actually being issued by an authority out in Colorado. So, we don’t have anything to do with that part of it. Federal law dictates that we have to have this hearing, and so that’s what we’re doing this evening. In no way does this impact the city’s credit and the city is not issuing the bonds.”
The resolution states the bonds will be used to finance, refinance or reimburse the costs of the AdventHealth Redmond Facilities (including related land costs) and the costs of acquiring and installing equipment.