JONESBORO — Clayton County bars will be able to stay open longer after the County Commission voted Tuesday, Feb. 20 to extend alcohol hours from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m.
The Clayton County Board of Commissioners voted 3-1 for the revised ordinance. Commission Chair Jeff Turner and Commissioners Alieka Anderson and Gail Hambrick while DeMont Davis cast the lone dissenting vote. Felicia Franklin was not present for the vote.
“This county will benefit minimal from this bill,” Davis said, primarily citing public safety concerns.
Clayton County Police Chief Kevin Roberts first brought the proposal to commissioners during a Feb. 13 work session.
He told commissioners both at the work session and at the Feb. 20 regular meeting that the CCPD — in order to be proactive — reached out to businesses in the summer of 2023.
Several owners and managers told him the current ordinance was hurting Clayton County businesses because some neighboring counties have later alcohol pouring hours.
With customers going to other counties, Clayton is losing business.
Davis, as a previous business owner, questioned that rationale.
“You’re going lighter on those pours anyway because they’ve already been drinking,” Davis said. “I don’t see your revenue beginning to outweigh your expenses to where you’re going to be extremely profitable.”
Turner said each business has a responsibility to protect their customers and employees.
“Hopefully if it’s extended they will continue to have a level of security — whether it’s sworn officers or private security,” he said at the Feb 20 meeting.
He also said the revised ordinance will benefit the county economically as the county will get more sales tax money with the extended hours.
In the Feb. 13 meeting, Roberts told commissioners it would take about three to four weeks to implement the new ordinance once…
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