Boone County residents will now be allowed to purchase alcoholic beverages at specific events held at county parks.
On Tuesday, the Boone County Fiscal Court conducted a second reading of an amendment to an ordinance allowing licensed vendors to sell alcohol during specific events held at Boone County Parks by obtaining a special events permit. The permits are recommended for events at England Idlewild, Boone Woods and Central Parks because they have shelters available for the public to rent.
The motion passed in a 3 to 1 vote, with Judge/Executive Gary Moore, Commissioners Chet Hand and Jesse Brewer voting yes and Commissioner Cathy Flaig voting no.
Prior to the amendment’s passing, Chapter 96.7 of the Boone County Code of Ordinances declared that it was unlawful for any person to possess or consume alcoholic beverages in any county park or parks department facility for public recreation.
Moore emphasized that the amendment is event-driven and should be utilized only by vendors permitted by the county.
“High-level reminder — this is not the Wild West,” Moore said. “It’s not selling alcohol at our concession stands or anything of the such. This is by permit only for special events.”
Qualifying events include concerts, fireworks displays and significant multi-day sporting events like the LWS Open at Idlewild – a professional disc golf tournament held annually at Idlewild Park near Burlington.
When first presented at the April 2 fiscal court meeting, the amendment included language saying the special event permits for the sale of alcoholic beverages would expire at dusk. After some deliberation between the county commissioners and staff, the reference to dusk was stricken altogether to avoid confusion.
“Staff has made a minor change as requested by the court at first reading to remove the reference to “dusk” in terms of the time period when alcohol would be permitted by special permit and added language that alcohol is only permitted during hours for which the park is open to the general public,” Boone County Administrator Matthew Webster said.
In addition, Commissioner Chet Hand mentioned that it is a requirement for permitted vendors to be insured.
“I did see a comment by somebody on social media — basically that they thought that this when this goes into play that people should be insured when they are doing this and it’s worth noting, I guess, on the record that that is part of the requirements,” Hand said.
The amendment is something Boone County began working on last August. The county formed a committee that included Webster, Boone County Alcoholic Beverage Control Administrator Lana Vines, and representatives from the sheriff’s, parks, and communications departments. Together, the committee drafted a report that explored the potential impact the amendment could have on the county.
Before the final vote, Moore touted Brewer’s efforts in talking to event vendors about a potential amendment.
“Commissioner Brewer kind of led the charge on this one,” he said. “This is something that he had heard from vendors at some of the events.”
