City of Eatonton News 

2011-05-03 - New E-Verify Rules Affect Public Benefits

New E-verify rules will affect so called public benefits for people that do business with local governments and Eatonton is no exception.  During the 2011 legislative session the General Assembly passed HB 87, a comprehensive piece of legislation intended to address illegal immigration on a state and local level.  Many of the provisions of this new law will directly affect cities.  All ne employees must meet the everify requirements.  Every city must post its federally issued identification number and dat on its website.  All contractors for the physical performance of services must sign an affidavit swearing the participate in the e-verify system.  Business licenses holders, i.e., holders of occupational tax certificates, must also complete and affidavit  swearing to the tenets included in the bill and the SAVE program, whhich is an alien verification program.  Also the police are allowed to check the legal status of a suspect if there is probable cause to believe the suspect is in the country illegally.

2011-11-11 - City Revamps alcohol rules and fees

After the November special elections for alcohol sales on Sunday both by the drink and for package sales, the City Council rewrote its alcohol ordinance.  "It was just a byzantine mess",  said City Attorney Chris Huskins.

Package sale of beer and wine can occur from 12:01 a.m. Monday morning until 12:00 Midnight on Saturday and from 12:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon until 11:30 p.m. Sunday night.

Package sales of distilled spirits are from 7:00 am until 12:00 midnight Monday through Saturday and  from 12:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon until 11:30 p.m. Sunday night.

All alcohol by the drink can occur from 9:00 am until 2:00 Monday thru Saturday  and again from 12:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon until 11:30 Sunday night. There are special rules when New Years eve fall on Sunday and the fee schedule has been revamped to make it more realistic and affordable.

One interesting new item in the rewrite is the allowance that Georgia Farm Wineries have.  In an effort to attract them to our festivals special $100 permits are offered to Farm Wineries so that they can come and sell bottles of their wine and provide samples to interested patrons.  

Some people in the City hope this will spur more restaurants to come into town and increase not only sales tax but the alcohol tax both the City and the County share under a Local Option Sales Tax agreement.  With more destination places, such as restaurants, in the City, other businesses should also see an increase in store traffic and sales. 

 Putnam County did not have either alcohol referendum on a ballot for County voters to choose so the alcohol allowance is only in the City of Eatonton at this time.

2012-01-20 - City Awarded a Governors Highway Safety Grant

The City has been awarded a Governors Highway Safety Grant of $10,000.  The grant will be used to purchase a portable radar speed sign to warn drivers of their speed as they drive through town.  The grant will also be used to buy gear bags for police officers.  The City is very lucky to have received this grant,,  says long time police chief Kent Lawrence.  Not every jurisdiction that applied got it and we certainly need the speed sign.  We borrowed one once before and people really paid attention to it, he said.  By the way, unless otherwise posted, the speed limit in town is 25 mph. 
 
 
 

 
 
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