Augusta commissioners were about to delete an item to consider suspending or revoking the alcohol license of Southbound Smokehouse on Thursday because the owners had announced they’re closing the business, but Commissioner Ben Hasan had a message for commissioners about commissioners speaking to the media.
“We’re kind of losing our bearings around certain things as commissioners,” Hasan said. “All of us have the right to speak to the media, but in the last several months, the media has become where we’re attempting to adjudicate cases, and that’s just not fair to the citizens. It’s not fair to your colleagues. We can get together. We can talk about these issues. I think now we have ventured into making comments about how the sheriff conducts his business.”
The Richmond County Sheriff’s office recommended that Southbound Smokehouse’s liquor license be suspended following a June 10 police raid that resulted in citations for operating a non-licensed dancing establishment and allowing alcohol sales to minors.
During the raid on the 1855 Central Ave., property, officers found underage people who allegedly had been drinking at the establishment, and one person had a fake ID.
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Questions have been raised about why an off-duty deputy who was supposed to be working security at Southbound didn’t show up but allegedly participated in the raid.
“It sets some bad precedents,” Hasan said. “We (commissioners) need to stop adjudicating this because it’s not doing the citizens any good. It’s not doing our relations any good, and we’re doing more harm than good.”
Obviously referring to negative comments commissioners have made about the selection of DeKalb County Deputy Fire Chief Anthony Burden as Augusta’s new chief and reports of Mayor Hardie Davis’ extravagant spending, Hasan said heretofore the comments had been limited to the commission.
“Now we’re going out into law enforcement, he said. “And God only knows who’s going to end up next. So let’s be mindful.”
Commissioner John Clarke, an outspoken critic of the fire chief selection process and the mayor’s spending said Hasan was scolding some of the commissioners for speaking to the media.
Sylvia Cooper is a Correspondent with The Augusta Press. Reach her at sylvia.cooper@theaugustapress.com.
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