Highland residents will be able to pop a cold one at approved events in two public places, although in rather narrow circumstances.
The Town Council voted 5-0 Monday to amend its alcohol ordinance to allow the Park Board to issue special-event permits for Main Square Park and the Sharp Athletic Complex on the north side of town. Lincoln Center also is allowed to serve alcohol at various functions under separate cover.
Alcohol can function only as a companion to a main event, however, and not the event itself, said Clerk-Treasurer Michael Griffin. As well, the Park Board would have 30 days to determine whether an event meets the criteria outlined in the ordinance. If it doesn’t, the board can either vote to reject the event outright or choose not to vote on it within the 30 days, which would be the same as rejecting it.
If the Park Board approves an event, it would go to a final vote before the Town Council for final approval, Griffin said.
The amendment was born out of an effort by Joel Ratajack, who hosts Rockopelli, an annual charity rock concert in Main Square. In November, Ratajack requested to have alcohol at the event because he wanted to increase his profit margin and therefore the money he’s able to give to local charities, according to Griffin.
Previously, the ordinance called for the Town Council to approve special permits for alcohol, which it did twice for town-sponsored events. But each time, the approval had to be done by amending the existing alcohol ordinance to allow it, and the amendment had a “sunset” provision that expired the amendment at the event’s close, Griffin said.
Griffin said the amendment still “errs on the side of denial” for alcohol in public in that events still have to go through to two boards for approval. Nevertheless, as long as alcohol isn’t the event’s main focus, it can now be considered.
In other business, the council voted unanimously to appropriate $97,000 in excess money from the Municipal Cumulative Capital Development fund to the Highland Fire Department. The department will use it to purchase two pickup trucks and new helmets.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.