No cookie sales at Girl Scout founder home

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SAVANNAH, Ga., Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Girl Scouts in a Georgia city say officials told them a local ordinance does not allow them to sell cookies in front of their founder's home.

Jan McKinney, head of product sales for the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, said girls have annually sold their cookies in front of the Savannah home of founder Juliette Gordon Low for decades but a complaint last year forced them to relocate, the Savannah Morning News reported Monday.

Randolph Scott, Savannah's zoning administrator, said he investigated the complaint and discovered the scouts were using a public sidewalk, which violates a city ordinance. He said he called for a survey to attempt to find private space for the Girl Scouts between the home and the sidewalk, but none was found.

"I know it doesn't look good," Scott said. "However, other businesses won't care if it's the Girl Scouts or March of Dimes. They're going to say, 'Why can't I sit out front and solicit business?'"

Alderman Van Johnson suggested the City Council could grant a variance to allow temporary sales at the Low house during the cookie season.

"Juliette Low brings thousands of tourists from around the country. Juliette Low is known for Girl Scouts, and Girl Scouts are known for cookies," said Johnson.