Residents seek to squash Snellville's alcohol appeal
Snellville has been drinking on Sunday for weeks. Yet, the controversy continues.
On Friday, the attorneys for eight residents filed a motion to dismiss the city's appeal of Gwinnett Magistrate Judge Mark A. Lewis' ruling to the state Supreme Court. City officials said they had filed the appeal to clear up two conflicting provisions of state law.
But attorney Rick Stepp said in light of Snellville's passage of a July 20 referendum, which opened the tap for restaurants to pour on Sundays, the issue is moot.
"What a waste of time and taxpayer money," said Stepp, adding that it could take the state Supreme Court six to eight months to issue a ruling. "You would think common sense would prevail. But Snellville, just not known for it."
But Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer said Tuesday that Lewis' ruling tied the city's hands in regulating the hours of Sunday sales without holding another referendum.
The mayor believes the motion to dismiss the city's appeal is driven by eight residents who want the city to reimburse them for legal expenses. The residents filed a lawsuit against Snellville after the city's Dec. 14 decision to approve Sunday alcohol sales by a council vote, rather than through a referendum.
