Perry council denies sale of alcohol for cornhole league during city council meeting

PERRY – Mayor Randall Walker and council denied an alcohol sale request for the recreation department’s adult cornhole league during Tuesday’s Perry council meeting.

During pre-council, Director of Leisure Services Curtis Coates said the department will be hosting an adult cornhole league this summer. They were looking to partner with Bodega Brew to sell beer and wine on the premises on nights only. It would have taken place on Thursday nights from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and it is an adults-only athletic event. 

The event was proposed to be held at the James E. Worrall gymnasium. Councilmember Robert Jones asked if, traditionally, they have not allowed alcohol at Rozar Park, then proposed a more appropriate location for the Perry Event Center, which permits alcohol.

Walker clarified that the city allows alcohol at the Worrall Center for private events. Councilmember Phyllis Bynum-Grace said she does not have a problem with the cornhole league having alcohol. However, she believed it would have been more appropriate to move the event to the event center because of possible problems with children being in and out of the building. She said they don’t want to start something they may face issues with. She then asked Coates if it was possible to hold the same event but in a smaller setting.

Coates said he could check the availability of the event center and believed it would be feasible if it were available. 

City Manager Lee Gilmour said he agreed with Bynum-Grace’s observation. He said the event center would’ve been a better location because the event could be held both indoors and outdoors, due to weather. He said it could potentially attract more participants and bring more people downtown.

Councilmember Willie King was unsure whether the alcohol be given to anyone at the event or just to players. King then said when people start drinking, and if a team starts losing, problems start rising. He was concerned with who would control the event if it gets out of hand and if police would be on standby. 

Coates explained that the alcohol would only be for league participants over 21. They will receive a wristband during their check-in that will inform Bodega Brew. Coates also said they would prepare Leisure Services Staff Members to monitor.

Councilmember James Moody also expressed concern. He said he did not feel comfortable holding the event at the James E. Worrall Center or Perry Events Center, and believed it would set a precedent.

King agreed with Moody’s concern and said allowing certain people alcohol would create another issue. He then asked Coates if other recreation departments have held similar events.

Coates reached out to three recreation departments. The city of Acworth has been successful in having a cornhole league while selling alcohol on the premises. 

Coates said Cherokee County’s model did not go well. They started with 60 cornhole teams. Once the council denied the sale of alcohol, they dropped down to four teams and never recovered, he said. 

Finally he reached out to Cobb County Parks and Recreation which operates a cornhole league without alcohol sales. Coates said they have approximately 30 registered teams. 

Councilmember Darryl Albritton thought the cornhole league was positive, but does not see the necessity of having alcohol involved. He said he would vote against the proposal. 

The proposal was denied unanimously during the regular meeting.

Moving on to the next item on the agenda, City Manager Lee Gilmour explained Georgia Department of Transportation funding for street resurfacing. This was approved during the regular meeting.

Gilmour said five streets will see improvements soon. This includes:

• Valley Drive
• Longbridge Way
• Cherokee Road
• Cater Circle 
• Stonegate Trail

DOT told the city that the General Assembly has provided additional money for $382,000. Gilmour recommended council allow them to proceed with the streets.

Towards the end of the pre-council meeting, Councilmember Darryl Albritton asked about the previous Walgreens building, located on Ball Street. He said he has been asked by citizens what will happen with the building.

Economic Development Director Holly Wharton said the property has been recently purchased and the sale closed last week. However, the future plans for the building is unknown.

Also, during pre-council, Communications Specialist Amber Howell shared a video with the mayor and council of Pine Needle Park, which has received over 55,000 views.

Howell said the Communications Office is developing a short-form video series to spotlight the city’s parks. Each video will highlight the locations, amenities, recreational opportunities, and natural beauty, she said. To keep up with the video series, visit the city’s Facebook page. 

Mayor and council will meet again for their pre-council starting at 5 p.m. and regular council meeting at 6 p.m. on May 6. Everyone is invited to attend these meetings, and the agenda can be found here.