April 17, 2019 Page 7A
porter
Continued from Front
walks, open areas and all
parcels and tracts of real
property in the entertain-
ment district.
These provisions were
added to the city code that
governs consumption of
alcohol in Forsyth city
limits. They will go into
effect as soon as the city
orders cups and has them
available for sale. City
manager Janice Hall said
that should be in time for
the concert on the square
planned for Saturday, June
1. Currently the businesses
that sell alcohol within the
entertainment district are
Pickled Okra, Grits Cafe,
Minori's Italian Restaurant
and Jonah's on ]ohnston.
No one voiced Opposi-
tion to the entertainment
district, but several people
spoke in favor of the pro-
posed district and others
had questions about it.
Originally the hours were
given as 5-11 p.m. daffy.
Hall said she took a letter
about the district and the
public hearing to every
business within the des-
ignated area. She said the
letter left the times and the
size of the cup blank since
they hadn't been finalized.
The advertisement for the
public hearing that ran
in The Reporter did not
specify the times, cup size
or borders of the district.
Hall said no One contacted
her for additional informa-
tion.
"I think it's a great idea; it
will help grow businesses
in the downtown area"
said ]eremy Seymour of
Pickled Okra. "But I pro-
pose a change in the start
times:'
"Our Sunday hours are
12-5 p.m." said Laurie
Thomas of Ionah's on
]ohnston."There's not
much going on after 5 on
Sunday. Maybe we should
adjust the time to fit the
restaurant's hours:'
The city has recently
changed the alcohol pour-
ing start time for Sunday
to 11:30 a.m. Thomas
said there are more likely
to be activities around
the square on Sunday
afternoon than Sunday
evening. Presently the only
businesses serving alco-
hol in the entertainment
district on Sundays are Jo-
nah's and Minori's. Council
member Greg Goolsby
said there should be op-
portunities for special
events in the district on
Saturday afternoons, too,
especially during football
season.
Holly White of Sage and
Sparrow Boutique, which
is in the district, said she
visited Monroe's entertain-
ment district on the pre-
ceding Sunday and it was
busy, with people parking
in lots and then walk-
ing around the business
district. She said Forsyth
Convention & Visitors
Bureau executive direc-
tor Gilda Stanbery said
the biggest day for people
checking into Forsyth
hotels is Sunday. They go
to Macon to eat, and then
shop, because nothing is
open in Forsyth. The same
thing happens on Mon-
day because there are no
restaurants open in For-
syth on Monday. Shawna
Bartlett, owner of Home-
town Treasures, which is in
the entertainment district,
echoed Whites comments.
"If people came to down-
town, we would open on
Sunday" said White.
Kelly Hiers, owner of
West Mane Salon and
a member of Forsyth-
Monroe County Chamber
of Commerce board of
directors, asked how the
entertainment district
regulations would affect
events that served alcohol
like Business After Hours.
Mayor Eric Wilson said
people could carry alcohol
outside on the streets if
they had the designated
cups. It should not change
anything else about fees,
applications, licenses,
etc. pertaining to serving
alcohol, whether for sale or
gratis as part of the event.
Hiers also asked about
how the entertainment
district would affect the
Forsythia Festival, which
includes the entertainment
district but extends beyond
it. After discussion, council
said it might be best to
suspend the entertainment
district during Forsythia
Festival and included in
the ordinance that the dis-
trict may be suspended at
any time at the discretion
of council.
City attorney Bobby
Melton advised that the
city charter provides that
council may summar-
ily suspend something if
needed. He advised that
the city will need to adver-
tise the changes it made to
the entertainment district
in the specified hours but
could pass the ordinance
before amending the
advertisement since" hours
were not specified in the
ad, although hours were
in the proposed ordinance
changes available for
review.
Forsyth economic
development director
Tammie Pierson asked if
events could be blocked off
within the entertainment
district. Melton said that
closing streets is handled
separately from the ordi-
nance on alcohol usage.
Hall said she does not
know the cost of the cups, .
yet; so she does not know
the price the city will sell
them. She said she de-
cided the 16-ounce cup
would be the right size for
the 12-ounce beer sold
at Pickled Okra. Monroe
sells 20-ounce cups. The
ordinance says each patron
may only buy one cup at a
time.
April 20, 2019 8:00 pm, 11 pm
ON THE SQUARE
This band is complete with veteran musicians and singerts that
bring jaw dropping performances to any stage. So, If you like
music by MICHAEL JACKSON, PRINCE, MAXWELL,
FRANKY BEVERLY, AND MAZE, R. KELLY, USHER,
ROBIN THICKE and CEE LO GREEN or any kind of dance music,
they do it all and they do it well!
Concessions Available Free Admission on the Square No Pets Allowed
Forsyth Main Street ] 478-994-7747 ] www.mainstreet.cityofforsyth.net
A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:
,Ma cI00FM,United Bank, Ingmm Enlilies
, Monroe Ca ly Reporter . H0ma0wn Treasu s ,Medho
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