So what happens now that we have passed liquor by the drink? Watkinsville City Council ponders pouring predictaments

Luke Bishop asking for permission to expand

The Watkinsville City Council met Wednesday evening at the Community Center with a few blossoming items on the agenda including a home Bud and Blooms flower arrangements business at 36 Harris Lane and the expansion of the Fastenal building owned by the Bishops down on Highway 15, but everyone's mind seemed to be on the overwhelmingly favorable vote to enact the distilled spirits referendum from the night before.

Now how to go about enacting that bit of seismic shift in local restaurants being able to pour mixed drinks.

As of the time of the meeting after the landslide election mandate, the restaurant Chops & Hops had yet to apply and pay the $1,000.00 application fee.

Whether or not there will be a 75-to-25 ratio of food to drinks as in the county, or whether the fee will remain a $1,000.00 for the fee will be decided during the second reading of the proposed language for the ordinance. So far those are the Mayor's preference, to follow suit of the county.

That will be during the April meeting, as advised by Reitman. The Mayor wants to keep the 75 to 25 food to drink ratio, but fielded suggestions and input from Dave Shearon of Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast as to possibly use square footage or any number of other factors to attempt to keep out the mass number of chain restaurants like those that plague Gwinnett County.


A budget was approved for the Comfort Station at 9 Water Street. The Watkinsville Police Department shall open and close the facility during business hours. Some discussion was heard about bike racks.

Fifteen Properties received approval for building permit at 1360 Greensboro Highway

Ashlie Johnson of Bud and Bloom was approved for home business at 36 Harris Lane

City Attorney Joe Reitman, Jr. has cobbled together the language from other area municipalities to combine beer and wine with that of distilled spirits.

I would suggest that some dispensation be set aside for brew pubs and the like. They don't want bars in Watkinsville but I would love to see an Eagle Tavern Ale for sale some day.