City Approves Alcohol, Cemetery Fee Increases

Revised alcohol license and cemetery fees approved by the Thursday night will put Acworth more in line with fees charged by other municipalities, officials said.

City officials reviewed alcohol license fees in surrounding jurisdictions before proposing increases that apply only to retail package stores that participate in Sunday sales and for establishments that have consumption on premises license, Assistant City Manager Brandon Douglas said.

“(Acworth) wasn’t too far off but it was just (to be more aligned),” Douglas said.

For example, the license fee for malt beverage increased from $400 to $500, the fee for wine increased from $300 to $400, the fee for spirituous liquors went up from $1,000 to $1,500 and the fee for a Sunday sale license increased from $550 to $650.

The board also approved an increased to the cemetery fee ordinance, raising the cost for city residents from $500 to $800 and for non-residents from $750 to $1,000. Burial permits increased from $30 to $75. Those fees are still below those of private cemeteries, which typically charge more than $1,000, Douglas said.

“It’s just bringing it up to the cost of equalization,” he said.

In other business, the board:

• Accepted a $30,000 grant from an anonymous private foundation for the “Expanding Horizons” program;
• Voted to allow the Cobb County Radio Control Modeler’s Club to use South Shore Park for its 2012 Float Fly Days;
• Approved the programmed maintenance agreement with Shriver Mechanical, Inc. for HVAC equipment at Roberts School, Rosenwald School, Logan Farm Park and the Beach House at a cost of $2,962;
• Approved a one-year mowing maintenance services contract with R.G.S. Landscape Management, Inc. in the amount of $66,530;
• Approved an acquisition agreement and documents for right of way and easements for a property at 4870 S. Main Street for the Senator Russell Avenue Phase 2 Project;
• Approved a contract with Splash Festivals to hold the on Main Street April 13-14, 2013;
• And approved the annexation and rezoning of 0.8 acres on Dogwood lane from residential to city of Acworth OIT.