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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Kennesaw City Council Meeting - July 6, 2026

City Council — Monday, July 6, 2026

BodyKennesaw, Georgia

SessionCity Council

DateMonday, July 6, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 21:05

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

2:43

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

2:44

Welcome to this, our regularly scheduled council meeting for Monday, the sixth of July, twenty twenty six.

2:51

We're delighted that you're here.

3:56

With that, the meeting is called to order.

3:58

If you're going to speak tonight for any reason, if you would stand and be

Speaker 2

4:02

sworn

Speaker 1

4:03

in by

Speaker 2

4:03

Mr.

4:04

Hensley.

4:06

Yes, if you'll be making any kind of comment or public presentation before this council this evening, would you please raise your right hand?

4:13

Do you swear or affirm that the comment or presentation that you'll be making this evening will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

4:19

If so, please say I do.

4:21

Thank you.

4:21

You may be seated.

4:23

Thank you, Sam.

Speaker 1

4:25

Public comment.

4:26

This section is for comment on anything that is open.

4:32

Hearing none and oh.

4:34

Yes, sir.

4:37

Yes, sir, and state your name and address for the record, please.

Speaker 3

4:42

Yes, my name is Daniel Titus.

4:44

I live at 2772 Bent Creek Drive, Northwest Kennesaw.

4:50

Um I'm speaking about agenda number 12, the alcohol license at McDobs Point.

4:58

Um I live in that subdivision right behind there, and I'm opposed to it.

5:03

And just express my opinion that we're opposed to having a liquor license store that close to our neighborhood.

5:10

There's a church less than a half a mile from the shopping center, also.

5:15

We got to stand to stay there that right there at the beginning of my subdivision.

5:19

And unfortunately, we get quite a bit of break-ins and with the liquor light store there.

5:24

We feel like it's gonna have more people wanting to break into our homes, trying to support their habits to support the liquor and everything.

5:31

So I'm a totally against it for my neighborhood here, and actually I've been living there for 34 years.

5:39

The agreement that the landlord has with that shopping center, but be no liquor store, no pawn shop, and no type of shopping store that works on automobiles out in the parking lot because it makes it look like a junky area.

5:52

So that's part of the agreement that the landlord agreed on 20 years ago when he built the shopping center.

Unassigned speaker

6:00

Thank

Speaker 3

6:01

you.

Speaker 1

6:01

Thank you, sir.

6:06

Anyone else hearing none and seeing none?

6:09

The floor for public comment is closed.

6:13

We have uh four items on the consent agenda.

6:17

Looking for a motion to approve the consent agenda in gross.

Speaker 4

6:22

So made.

Speaker 1

6:22

Do I have a second?

Speaker 4

6:25

Second.

Speaker 1

6:26

Thank you.

6:26

All those in favor of approving the consent agenda in gross, signify by raising your right hand.

6:33

Five, those opposed, no.

6:35

Motion is approved by unanimous vote.

6:38

Item 12 A alpha is the alcohol license for Carney Spirits.

Speaker 5

6:50

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

6:52

Kayla Willis for the business license office.

6:54

I'm here tonight in consideration for approval of a retail package alcohol license for liquor, beer, wine, and sundae sales for Carney Spirits Corporation doing business as Carney Spirits located at 2953 Cobb Parkway Northwest, suites 11 and 12, Kennesaw, Georgia, 30152.

7:14

The applicant is Mr.

7:15

Jeffrey Henley, who is in attendance tonight and represented by attorney Kevin Leff of Sardin Leff LLC.

7:21

The applicant has completed the required alcohol workshop per section 6-69.

7:26

Signs have been posted in this hearing properly advertised per section 6-36.

7:32

The current application and background checker on file.

7:34

A distance survey was completed by a certified surveyor and indicates that the business is within 300 feet of a private residence.

7:42

Section 6-42 indicates that mayor and council may waive the distance requirement if granting of such license shall not have any adverse effect on the private residents.

7:51

The finance director recommends approval and the fiscal impact is the $350 application fee.

Speaker 1

8:00

Thank you, Kayla.

8:03

Looking for a motion to approve the alcohol license for Carney Spirits.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Community Engagement█████████████████████████████████33%

Alcohol Licensing██████████████████████████26%

Parks And Recreation█████████████████████████25%

Procedural████████████████16%

Summary of Proceedings

Kennesaw City Council Meeting - July 6, 2026

The Kennesaw City Council met on July 6, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting covered a consent agenda, a public hearing for a retail alcohol license, public comments on various community issues, and a report from the City Manager on the city's Salute to America event.

Consent Calendar

Resolution: Mutual Aid Agreement with Cobb County Police: Council approved an agreement for mutual law enforcement assistance.
Surplus Property: Council authorized the sale or disposal of surplus Police Department vehicles.
Final Plat Application: Council approved a final plat for the Devin's Shire townhome subdivision (1972, 1994 & 2004 Duncan Dr), revising lot lines for Lot 29. Case #FP2026-03.
Meeting Minutes: Council approved the minutes from the June 15, 2026, regular meeting.

The Consent Agenda was approved by a vote of 5-0. (Motion by Councilmember Tracey Viars, second by Councilmember Jonathon Bothers).

Public Comments & Testimony

Daniel Titus (City Resident): Mr. Titus, a resident of 34 years, spoke in opposition to agenda item #12A, the Retail Package Alcohol License for Carni Spirits. He stated the proposed location is too close to his neighborhood and a church less than half a mile away, and is near an extended-stay hotel. He expressed concern that a liquor store would exacerbate existing burglary issues in the neighborhood. He also noted that the original shopping center landlord barred liquor stores, pawn shops, and auto repair shops in the lease agreements made 20 years ago.
Samuel Rusch (City Resident): Mr. Rusch presented printed copies of email correspondence with city staff regarding unresolved issues in the Woodland Acres neighborhood, including a lack of QR code signage for SeeClickFix at Woodland Park, unaddressed meeting requests with the Public Works Director, and a lack of response from Mayor and Council regarding a trail camera, a community survey, and graffiti removal. A heated exchange occurred with Mayor Pro Tem Antonio Jones regarding a claim that Jones did not consider the removal of graffiti containing a racial epithet a priority. Mayor Pro Tem Jones clarified he has never and would never disrespect law enforcement or trivialize such graffiti. Rusch stated he did not record their conversation.
Matthew Mayo (City Resident): Mr. Mayo asked for direct answers regarding the purpose of a trail camera installed near the entrance of Woodland Acres Park. He requested the removal of a chain blocking the park entrance and the installation of a bollard to make the park ADA-compliant. He questioned why a legal review is required before the Council will meet with residents and criticized the timeline for the budget, stating he knows no one who takes five months out of their year to make a budget.

Discussion Items

Alcohol License: Carni Spirits (Item 12A): Kennesaw Business License Manager Kayla Willis presented the application for a Retail Package Alcohol License for Liquor, Beer, Wine, and Sunday Sales for Carni Spirits Corporation D/B/A Carni Spirits, located at 2953 Cobb Parkway NW. The applicant is Jeffrey Henley. Ms. Willis noted that the applicant completed the required alcohol workshop, the hearing was properly advertised, and a distance survey indicated the business is within 300 feet of a private residence, a requirement which the Mayor and Council may waive. The Finance Director recommended approval.
Applicant Statement: Mr. Henley addressed the Council, stating that owning a business is a lifelong dream, he loves Kennesaw, his son attends Kennesaw State University, and he is a veteran.

Key Outcomes

Alcohol License for Carni Spirits: The Council voted unanimously (5-0) to approve the retail package alcohol license for Carni Spirits. (Motion by Councilmember Tracey Viars, second by Mayor Pro Tem Antonio Jones).
City Manager Report: City Manager Jeff Drobney thanked city staff for their work on the Salute to America celebration, estimating that approximately 15,000 people attended the downtown event. Councilmember Jonathon Bothers also praised the execution of the event.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 6:48 PM. No executive session was held. The next work session is scheduled for Monday, July 13, 2026, at 6:30 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this, our regularly scheduled council meeting for Monday, the sixth of July, twenty twenty six. We're delighted that you're here. With that, the meeting is called to order. If you're going to speak tonight for any reason, if you would stand and be sworn in by Mr. Hensley. Yes, if you'll be making any kind of comment or public presentation before this council this evening, would you please raise your right hand? Do you swear or affirm that the comment or presentation that you'll be making this evening will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? If so, please say I do. Thank you. You may be seated. Thank you, Sam. Public comment. This section is for comment on anything that is open. Hearing none and oh. Yes, sir. Yes, sir, and state your name and address for the record, please. Yes, my name is Daniel Titus. I live at 2772 Bent Creek Drive, Northwest Kennesaw. Um I'm speaking about agenda number 12, the alcohol license at McDobs Point. Um I live in that subdivision right behind there, and I'm opposed to it. And just express my opinion that we're opposed to having a liquor license store that close to our neighborhood. There's a church less than a half a mile from the shopping center, also. We got to stand to stay there that right there at the beginning of my subdivision. And unfortunately, we get quite a bit of break-ins and with the liquor light store there. We feel like it's gonna have more people wanting to break into our homes, trying to support their habits to support the liquor and everything. So I'm a totally against it for my neighborhood here, and actually I've been living there for 34 years. The agreement that the landlord has with that shopping center, but be no liquor store, no pawn shop, and no type of shopping store that works on automobiles out in the parking lot because it makes it look like a junky area. So that's part of the agreement that the landlord agreed on 20 years ago when he built the shopping center. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Anyone else hearing none and seeing none? The floor for public comment is closed. We have uh four items on the consent agenda. Looking for a motion to approve the consent agenda in gross. So made. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you. All those in favor of approving the consent agenda in gross, signify by raising your right hand. Five, those opposed, no. Motion is approved by unanimous vote. Item 12 A alpha is the alcohol license for Carney Spirits. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Kayla Willis for the business license office. I'm here tonight in consideration for approval of a retail package alcohol license for liquor, beer, wine, and sundae sales for Carney Spirits Corporation doing business as Carney Spirits located at 2953 Cobb Parkway Northwest, suites 11 and 12, Kennesaw, Georgia, 30152.

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