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New grocery store to locate in SF

New grocery store to locate in SF

Posted: Friday, August 20, 2010 9:01 pm

By CHRIS MENEES
Staff Reporter
South Fulton residents may soon be able to purchase some grocery items in their own town.
Plans are in the works for the opening of a small grocery store at the former Traveler’s Inn restaurant location in the 1600 block of Broadway.
At a city meeting Thursday evening, the City of South Fulton’s beer board granted a request from Gemarbhai V. Chaudhari of Jamin Investment Inc. for a beer permit for the new business venture.
The beer board — which is comprised of all of the members of the South Fulton City Commission — convened immediately following the regular monthly commission meeting at the city’s municipal complex.
In addressing the board, Chaudhari said South Fulton residents have demanded a grocery store in their town for the last couple of years. He plans to offer a convenience-type grocery store where staple items such as milk and bread will be available, but gasoline will not be sold.
South Fulton currently does not have either a grocery store or a convenience store, although there is a dollar-type store which carries some staple items located on State Line in the city limits. The closest grocery and convenience stores are currently located in the community’s twin city of Fulton, Ky.
When considering the permit request, South Fulton Vice Mayor Keith Curlin emphasized that store employees will need to “card” all customers who purchase beer to ensure they are over the legal drinking age.
South Fulton city manager Jeff Vowell said he welcomes the new business and wishes the owners the best in their endeavor.
The request for a permit was approved by a vote of 3-0, with Curlin and commissioners Tony Perry and Thomas Pettigrew voting to grant it. South Fulton Mayor David Crocker and commissioner Charles Moody were absent.
In action during Thursday evening’s regular city commission meeting, which was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and with prayer led by Curlin, the commission:
• Heard questions and concerns from Curlin in regard to alleged drug activity in South Fulton. He said citizens want more action in drugs being removed from their community, whether it involves the city police department, the local drug task force or both agencies.
City attorney Karl Ivey emphasized that citizens need to communicate with police and provide information that could be helpful in identifying alleged suspects.
• Approved a request from two city department heads to post “no parking” signs on one side of Tennessee Street, where cars are often parked on both sides of the street, which Vowell said impedes public works trucks as they travel the route. Vowell said parking will still be allowed on the side of the street where most residences are located.
• Learned Vowell will meet Tuesday with representatives of Verizon Wireless at the city’s industrial park to try to find a location for Verizon to place a tower to serve the area. He said the effort is being handled through the city’s industrial board.
• Was informed a budget meeting will be called for Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. Vowell said commissioners will receive draft copies of the budget for this first meeting, with a second meeting to be called at a later time for the budget’s adoption.
Vowell said he has also completed a personnel policy and will provide copies to commissioners for their review.
• Learned Vowell has hedged an additional 30 percent of natural gas for the winter months, bringing the amount now hedged for the city to 45 percent.
• Was informed advertising has begun for work on the city’s sewer improvement project through a Community Development Block Grant and bids will be accepted for the first sewer line project, with actual replacement work to begin within the next couple of months.
• Was reminded a Neighborhood Watch meeting will be held Monday at 6 p.m. in the Harvey O. Vick Community Room at the South Fulton Municipal Building. Crocker, who works with the local drug task force as a law enforcement officer, will be the speaker.
Staff Reporter Chris Menees may be contacted by e-mail at cmenees@ucmessenger.com.
Published in The Messenger 8.20.10