Loganville Appoints Associate Judge; Amends Alcoholic Beverage Ordinance

By unanimous vote, Loganville city council members amended the alcoholic beverage ordinance Thursday, lowering renewal fees to make it easier on businesses in the city.

"We had a meeting on this and everyone was glad to see fees go down instead of up," said Councilman Wendell Geiger, chairman of the Planning and Development Committee.

The initial administration fee was lowered from $300 to $200 and a renewal application was lowered from $300 to $50. The fee for a transfer of location was lowered from $500 plus a $100 permit fee to $200 plus the permit fee and the renewal fee for a background check would go from $50 to $10.

Councilman Mark Kiddoo, chairman of the Finance Committee, announced a special called meeting to set the millage rate take place at 10 a.m., Monday, Sept. 19. He said the city planned to hold the millage rate at the current rate for another year despite a reduction of revenues, but couldn't guarantee that would hold in the future.

In other business:

• Approval was given for a community center for children at Bay Creek Crossing. The program was applied for by the First Baptist Church of Loganville. The center will offer after-school programs, English lessons, ministries and summer camps.
• The updated zoning map for Loganville was approved.
• Approval was given for $492,000 for the design phase of the sewerage plant expansion. Approval was also given to take $150,000 out of reserves to help make up the $492,000.
• Appointed Lori Duff as associate municipal judge for the city. Duff was subsequently sworn in by Loganville Municipal Judge Brad Brownlow.
• Approved a 5K run for Loganville First Baptist Church on Sept. 17.
• Announced that the Walton Chamber of Commerce Business and Community Expo would be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Sept. 29 at Meridian Park in Loganville.
• Announced that a Taste of Loganville was scheduled to take place from 5 - 9 p.m. at Loganville High School stadium.
• Announced the Autumn Heritage Festival is scheduled to take place Oct. 15. Deadline for vendor entries is Oct. 1.
• Announced the Christmas Parade will be at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 3. The website for entries will be live Monday. This year's theme is "Through The Eyes Of A Child."
• Gave an update on replacing service lines at the Fox Chase subdivision, which is complete except for the final punch list with the contractor.
• Gave an update on the water tank which is a little behind schedule due to the weather, but is in the process of being painted. Once that is complete, the logo will be painted and the security fence and landscaping installed.
• Approved a $117,039 bid to complete the city's fuel station - the funds to come out of Special Local Options Sales Tax funds.
• Approved a four-way stop on Fair Street and C.S. Floyd.
• Approved a change to parking on Main Street to prevent cars from parking down one side of the street.
• Approved a temporary fix for parking in Huntington Ridge over Halloween and delayed a vote on making a more permanent fix to parking problems in certain subdivisions until next month.
• Called for the General and Special Election on Nov. 8, 2011.