Beer, wine hearings planned

  The Blue Ridge City Council has scheduled two public hearings to receive public comments on whether or not the city should issue pouring licenses for beer and wine.

  The first hearing will be Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 10 a.m., and the second hearing will be Monday, Aug. 25, at 10 a.m. Both hearings will be held at city hall.

  At its May 13 meeting, the council tabled a decision on creating special use beer and wine pouring licenses for nonprofit organizations until public hearings could be held.

  The special use licenses, if approved, would allow organizations such as the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association, Blue Ridge Community Theater, Fannin County Chamber of Commerce and other nonprofit organizations holding a 501(c)3 IRS designation to serve beer and wine on a limited basis.

  The city’s current beer and wine ordinance allows only package sales of beer and wine.