COVINGTON, Ga. - Covington Mayor Ronnie Johnston broke the tie three times Monday night in three split votes to approve the second reading of changes to the city’s alcohol ordinances to allow for hospitality drinks at stores and salons and brown bagging at art shops.

Councilman Michael Whatley, Councilwoman Susie Keck and Councilman Josh McKelvey voted in favor of all three of the ordinance changes, while Councilman Kenneth Morgan, Councilwoman Hawnethia Williams and Councilman Anthony Henderson voted against. 

In the approval of the brown bagging ordinance, one change was made to clarify what happened to excess alcohol brought into the store. Previously, the ordinance stated that shop owners could cork, or reseal, the leftover alcohol, but that was changed to state that all excess alcohol had to be disposed of on location.