The Habersham County Commission revoked the business license at Monday night's meeting. Good Vibes Event Center Inc. was accused by Planning and Development Director Mike Beauchamp of violating county ordinances when the center served food and alcohol.
Troy Dill of the Planning and Development Department spoke on behalf of Mr Beacham, who was unable to attend the meeting. Dill outlined several county ordinance violations, primarily stemming from the unauthorized serving of food and alcohol on the center's premises.
Dill said the business license applicant, Chakaysia Birch, was expressly informed during the application process that the establishment was prohibited from serving alcohol or food. Birch even wrote on her business license application that the center would not serve alcohol or food.
Additionally, the presence of alcohol on the premises violated the ordinance due to its proximity to a nearby church. County regulations state that establishments that serve alcohol must maintain a distance of at least 100 meters from churches, but Good Vibes Event Center Inc. said two churches within the prescribed limits This condition is not met.
Mr Dill provided documentation to the committee showing social media photos showing food and alcohol being served at the centre.
He also explained that on several occasions, agents have pulled over patrons leaving the center who were intoxicated, resulting in drunk driving.
Habersham County Sheriff LT. Travis Jarrell was at the meeting to testify about one person who was arrested for drunk driving after leaving the event center.
Event center defense
Birch was attending the meeting to protect his business. She denied selling or providing alcohol at any time. However, she admitted that she served meals at the center. She confessed that she assumed that her Servsafe certification would mean she could serve food. Mr Birch apologized to the committee for her misunderstanding.
She also explained that some of the people who came to her center came from other restaurants in the county and were drunk.
The commission approved the revocation on a 4-1 vote. Commissioner Bruce Harkness voted against it. He felt there was not enough evidence to justify revocation at this time.
