Council Adopts Four-Month Moratorium on ‘Sweepstakes Cafes’

Members of the unanimously approved on an emergency basis Monday a 120-day moratorium on the establishment or expansion of any “internet sweepstakes cafés” or “phone card sweepstakes cafés.”

Mayor Boyd Austin during Monday night’s council meeting that the issue over such businesses had been brought to city officials’ attention by the Georgia Municipal Association, adding that it likely would take legislative action to close the loophole that allows such businesses to get around the state’s gaming laws. Austin proposed the 120-day length of the moratorium, which the ordinance establishes to allow the city to study the potential impact of such businesses.

The GMA has on its site a model ordinance for a moratorium on internet sweepstakes cafes.

City Manager Kendall Smith said officials had received one inquiry about opening such a business, but no one had filled out an application to open one.

The council also gave unanimous approval to amendments on ordinances dealing with junk vehicles, alcoholic beverage establishments, animals, business licensing and health and sanitation; the amendments add language to give the the power to enforce the ordinances.

In other business, the council:

• Tabled a measure to annex and zone a parcel of land purchased by the city from the estate of Scott Smith. The measure would have amended the property’s zoning from county R-1 to city R-1, which would allow for “municipal, county, state, federal and other uses, including parks and playgrounds,” according to the meeting agenda. The property, which consists of two tracts, is adjacent to Sara Babb Park. Smith said the council should consider the measure again at next month’s meeting.

• Voted to disapprove an application from Southern Taxi LLC to create a taxi service. Smith during the council’s work session earlier in the evening said the proposed building the company was aiming to operate out of did not meet city regulations.