It took about half an hour, but the Peachtree City Council finally agreed to charge the Great Georgia Air Show $150 for its three-day beer and wine sales license instead of $925, which is the city’s minimum charge when a business will get its license with less than six months remaining in the year.
Air Show Director Angie Faulise asked if the city would lower the rate based on the three-day window for the air show, which would allow the show to return more money to the community.
The air show, a non-profit event, has raised $1.5 million for local organizations in its first 14 years, Faulise noted. This year, the top organizations benefitting from the air show will be the Dixie Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, local scouts and the Knights of Columbus, she said.
It took a bit of haggling among council members to settle at a price of $150 for the air show’s beer and wine sales license.
Initially, Mayor Don Haddix said he was concerned with setting a precedent that would allow other non-profits to seek a similar break from the city, and Councilwoman Vanessa Fleisch agreed, saying she expects to have more non-profit events in the city’s future. Also at the outset, Councilman Eric Imker said he was okay with a discount but unsure how much, and Councilwoman Kim Learnard said she too was okay with reducing the fee.
With the absence of Post 2 Councilman George Dienhart, who resigned to run for the mayor’s seat, that created a 2-2 tie that appeared headed for at least a postponement.
Discussion then turned to how the city offers a special event permit that allows organizations to pay $50 a day to serve beer and wine, but not to sell it, and that seemed to turn the tide on council a bit.
Ultimately the vote was unanimous to set the fee at $150, and City Manager Jim Pennington said staff would prepare a proposal to update the city’s ordinances to allow such.
It is believed this is the first year the air show will offer alcohol to guests, which will be done through a service company that conducts similar business at Chastain Park Amphitheater and other locations in metro Atlanta.
