Answering the will of Catoosa County voters in the November general election, commissioners held a public hearing Tuesday, Dec. 18.

During the hearing, county attorney Chad Young went over the new provisions of the ordinance, which allows for Sunday sales of liquor by the drink within the unincorporated areas of Catoosa County.

During the regularly scheduled commission meeting following the hearing, the body approved the ordinance, making it law.

Two of the added restrictions, which imitate both the Ringgold and Fort Oglethorpe ordinances, is that any establishment offering the sale of liquor by the drink must be more than just a bar. It must derive at least 51 percent of its income from the sale of food and seat at least 50 patrons.

Any facility that offers liquor by the drink must be at least 300 feet from any church, school or government facility.

The license fee to sell packaged beer or wine is $500. An on-premises liquor license is $4,000, with an additional fee of $500 for beer and wine. A one-time special event license is $350 and a “sampler” license goes for $200.

One other new provision of the recently approved ordinance is that the county's malt beverage and wine commission will expand from three to five commissioners. The new members will be selected by the Board of Commissioners meeting on Jan. 3.

Enforcement of the ordinance will be expanded from the sheriff's office to include code enforcement officials.