THOMASVILLE — A few minutes into the Tuesday night Thomas County Commission meeting, Chairman Ken Hickey called for a motion to put the question of alcoholic beverage sales in unincorporated Thomas County on a ballot.

After no response from fellow commissioners, Hickey again called for a motion.

“Mr. Chairman, I’m not an opponent of it, and I’m not a proponent of it,” Commissioner Moses Gross said, adding that he favors putting the question on a referendum.

Gross made a motion to put the question to voters, and Commissioner Merrill Baker provided the second.

Gross, Baker and Commissioner Zippy Vonier voted in favor of the motion. Chairman Ken Hickey and commissioners Wiley Grady, Mark NeSmith, Hershel Ansley and Phillip Brown cast nay votes.

“It dies for lack of a majority,” Hickey said.

At a board meeting earlier this month, Tommy Patel, owner of convenience stores in unincorporated areas, asked commissioners about the process of getting the question on a ballot.

“All we’re doing is taking any tax revenue on Sunday sales to surrounding cities and towns,” Patel said after the Tuesday meeting.

The City of Thomasville electorate approved Sunday alcoholic beverage sales in a referendum earlier this year.

“I’m going to educate them (commissioners ) if they’re willing to learn,” Patel said. 

He plans to provide the board with written Sunday sale-related information.

Hickey, chairman of the Midway Baptist Church board of deacons, said Wednesday he understands the desire to let the electorate decide.

“But there are other morals and values in this county that supercede alcohol sales,” the chairman said.

Nothing Thomasville’s and Coolidge’s Sunday sales, Hickey said, “It’s up to the municipalities, and it’s up to the county.”

He added, “I think it’s part of my responsibility to look after this county. I think it’s my duty to do what I did and to keep the county safe.”

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820