County Says ‘Yes’ to Church of God

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The alcohol issue is also stirring up in Blue Ridge. In a special called meeting Wednesday, February 8th, the board of commissioners unanimously passed a variance for the Blue Ridge Church of God. Members of the congregation and other citizens showed up for support of the variance. Although church members filled the seats in the third floor conference room, none of the members or opponents made any public comments regarding the decision.

“I think it’s a win-win for the church and the congregation and the county,”

Post 1 Commissioner Garnett Webb said following the vote. Post 2 Commissioner Larry Sosebee commended the church members present, commenting that he wished the regular commissioners’ meeting had as good a turnout as Wednesday’s meeting. As the meeting adjourned, the church members applauded the decision.

In an interview with FYN following the session, Blue Ridge Church of God Pastor Daniel Postell explained the request for the variance. Postell explained that the county has an ordinance that prevents any establishment to sell alcohol within 600 feet of a church.

“We don’t support alcohol,”

he said,

“…because as a pastor I have to counsel families that have been destroyed by alcohol.”

Conversely, though, the variance passed simply states that Postell’s church will not pursue legal action if the church buys five acres of a 50 acre tract and a grocery store or restaurant moves in beside it, within 600 feet.

“We are not seeking to change the county ordinance,” Postell explained, We are simply saying, we want to buy this five acres; don’t limit us because we’re a church and not allow us to buy it; if a grocery store comes in 600 feet, we’re not going to pursue legal action against them.”

The alcohol issue is also stirring up in Blue Ridge. Last month, several Blue Ridge business owners pursued the issue of alcohol sales on Sunday at a city council meeting. Mayor Donna Whitener said that the council would look into it, with the possibility of getting the issue on the July ballot as a referendum. City Administrator Bill Sowers told FYN this week that a July referendum was unlikely, due to time needed for public hearings and discussions and a vote by the city council. FYN will follow this story as it develops.

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