City May Allow Alcohol at Events Booked at Autrey Mill

Autrey Mill Nature Preserve may have the chance to better compete in becoming a destination for events if the Johns Creek City Council approves a measure to allow alcohol on certain areas of the grounds during those events.

The City Council discussed at its May 9 work session the implementation of an alcohol policy for the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve, and an ordinance may be voted on at its June 6 regular meeting.

Joan Compton, president of the not-for-profit Autrey Mill Nature Preserve Association, said the effort behind a new policy at Autrey Mill is two-fold: It would bring in income for fundraisers the association holds and would enhance its rental services, particularly for weddings, business retreats and civic organization functions.

The option to allow those booking events to serve alcohol would level the playing field in terms of competition with other area facilities. Allowing alcohol consumption would bring in additional revenue, not only for the association, but also for the city of Johns Creek.

The City Council is open to the idea but within certain guidelines, such as allowing alcohol to be served at only one of several venues at the preserve, such as within the Summerour House and surrounding area.

It was agreed that maintaining the status quo and not having an alcohol policy in place was not in the preserve’s and city’s best interests. The City Council recommended that John Kachmar, Johns Creek City Manager, write the proposal up as an ordinance, which he said would be voted on at the May 23 city council meeting.

Autrey Mill Nature Preserve Association served alcohol at events for many years when it was a Fulton County preserve, but when Johns Creek became a city it has not been able to do so, Compton said.  She added that if the ordinance was passed, the association would expect a modest amount of revenue for the first year. They want to be approach this slow and conservative to get it right. The association wanted to have the option to let renters be able to serve alcohol and have been severely limited in booking events because of the lack of a policy governing this matter.

During a review of more than 30 member agencies of the Georgia Recreation and Park Association, Kachmar stated in an agenda report to Mayor Mike Bodker and the City Council that the consumption of alcohol is not allowed in any open area of a park, but some recreation departments will issue a permit for certain events, such as weddings or family reunions. Alcohol permits are issued at certain locations in neighboring cities such as River’s Landing in Roswell and Mansell House in Alpharetta.

The proposed ordinance calls for anyone holding an event at which they would like to serve alcohol to either use an alcoholic beverage caterer or obtain a non-profit civic organization temporary alcohol permit from the Johns Creek Community Development department no later than 15 days prior to the event. 

A $50 permit fee is being proposed, plus an additional $10 for each day of the event, to be retained by the city.  To ensure that peace is maintained, an off-duty Johns Creek police officer must be hired by the event-holder and no alcohol should be served until the officer is present.  No cash bars will be allowed and no other persons will be allowed to bring in alcohol.

The Autrey Mill Nature Preserve is steeped in a rich historical past and has changed from a dense forest where the Creek Indians roamed to fertile land, and now back to woodlands. It is the ideal backdrop for any wedding, association function or any other event or just a place to play and teach children about history and the environment.

Having an alcohol policy in place would create new revenue streams for the preserve association and the City of Johns Creek. It would not interfere with the preserve’s operations, since the majority is always open to the general public.