Beer not on tap for July 4
City Council decides against suds for Independence Day fest.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
MONROE — Beer will not be on tap at this year's "Light of the Sky for the Fourth of July" festivities planned for July 4-5 at James Monroe Park on Main Street.
The City Council voted 3-2 on Tuesday, May 13, on an ordinance to amend a section of the community's codified ordinances to provide for the sale of alcoholic beverages at the municipal park during special events subject to approval of council.
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Four yes votes were needed to pass the ordinance by a majority of the seven-member council, said K. Philip Callahan, the city's law director.
Voting against the measure were Suzi Rubin and Vice Mayor Steve Tannreuther; voting yes were Mayor Robert Routson and Councilmen Robert Kelley and Tracy Shell.
Councilwoman Lora Stillman was absent and Councilwoman Anna Hale abstained from voting because she is part of the 12-member Fourth of July Committee, which organizes the two-day event.
Monroe resident Boyd Smith said any gain, monetary or otherwise, the city may receive from the event is not worth the risk because "I do not feel (beer is) necessary. I think it may cause more problems than what we may gain from this."
Tannreuther said the festival is a family event, which is why he voted against allowing beer sales.
"We don't need it," he said.
Steve Black, the chairman of the Monroe Fourth of July Committee, recently told City Council that the committee wanted to offer beer sales at the event because it hoped to raise $25,000 to make a contribution to a local charity and have a surplus for next year's event.
Although the two-day summer bash, which is in its second year, won't have a beer garden, it will feature fireworks and entertainment. And this year, the event will include more family activities, such as a car show, sack races, pet agility exhibition and rides, organizers said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5219 or dewilson@coxohio.com.
