Hiram Council Says 5 Pawn Businesses Is Enough

"Check into Cash of Georgia," submitted a Special Use Permit (SUP) Application for a title pawn shop to be located in a B-2 (highway business) district of Hiram.

Mayor Pro Tem Derrick Battle made a motion to approve the SUP and the motion was seconded by Councilperson Kathy Bookout, both voting to approve the new pawn business.

Council Members Teresa Philyaw and Earlene Graham voted against with Council Member Prather Rollins abstaining. Rollins owns Main Street Guns, Gold & Pawn.

With a 2-2 tie, Mayor Doris Devey cast the deciding vote against allowing a sixth pawn shop.

The city council then went onto amend the City of Hiram Code of Ordinances so that no further pawn shop applications would be reviewed in the future, unless the new owners were to take over an existing business, limiting the number of pawn businesses in Hiram to five.

The council held a public hearing on the matter Tuesday before the regular City Council meeting. A pawn shop spokesperson was the only person to speak at the public hearing.

Editor's note: The council meeting minutes are attached. Also, it should be noted that Hiram has one traditional pawn shop: Street Guns, Gold and Pawn.

Hiram's other pawn businesses include: 

1) Complete cash – 2 locations,
2) TitleMax and
3) First American Title Lending