DOUGHERTY COUNTY, GA -- A new business may not get its liquor license if the chief of police gets his way.
Parisian Bar and Lounge doesn't attract too much attention, sitting on a secluded strip of U.S. 19. However, it was the topic of thorough discussion at Monday’s County Commission meeting where Dougherty County Police Chief Don Cheek asked the commission to deny a request for an alcohol consumption license by its owner, Ulysee James, Jr.
“The actual owner of the property is his nephew, who is in military service and right now is out of the country deployed to Afghanistan,” says Chief Cheek.
Until his nephew returns, he has named James Preston Nix as manager, however Nix has been convicted of several felonies in the past.
“The primary concern was conviction for possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, multiple counts of forgery, theft by taking probation violation and then a litany of traffic violations,” says Chief Cheek.
By county ordinance, Nix cannot hold a handler's card, needed in order to run an establishment that sells alcohol.
Parisian isn't open just yet. It's located at 1900 Liberty Expressway and Chief Cheek tells us the building has a past. It was closed down several years ago by the county for serving alcohol to minors and for having live nude entertainment.
Commission Chair Jeff Sinyard says that while it's true, the county is losing money by not approving the license, that there are bigger things to worry about.
“When we turn it down, it even makes a stronger statement, it's not about money, it's about doing the right thing. It's about having the right operators and the right management running that establishment to protect our citizens,” says Sinyard.
Chief Cheek has been playing phone tag with Ulysee James, trying to talk with him about this situation. Fox 31 News actually spoke with Mr. James and he says he knew nothing of Nix's background and will wait to talk things over with the police before deciding his next move.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWFXL