Allen County commissioners denied Farm-City Days organizers permission to have a beer garden on the courthouse lawn during their annual event, Oct. 6-9.
The temporary garden would have been at the foot of an entertainment stage just south of the county jail, said Aaron Franklin, chairman of the F-C Days committee. A significant feature of F-C Days is live music.
The beer garden would be “secured, controlled and monitored,” Franklin said. A temporary license also would be needed from the state Alcohol Beverage Control agency.
With Commissioner Tom Williams absent from Tuesday’s meeting, Commissioner Jim Talkington took the lead in questioning Franklin. Rather than take responsibility of allowing alcohol on the downtown square Talkington proposed that Rookies, a sports bar on the corner of Jackson and Jefferson with an outdoor dining area, could be an alternative site.
Franklin protested, saying, “I don’t want to pick or choose,” which establishment serving beer would benefit. Also, the Rookies site is far enough removed from the stage that it defeats the purpose of enjoying a cold one while listening and watching the performers.
Chairman Jerry Daniels allowed he wasn’t distressed by the beer garden being on county property, but deferred to Talkington, “who has been on the commission longer than I have.”
At Monday night’s Iola Council meeting Franklin, who is a city councilman, said that if county officials shot down his proposal he would seek city approval to have the beer garden on a city street.
Commissioners were receptive to helping financially with electric upgrades on the courthouse lawn, after Franklin pointed out that last year the power played out before it served all vendors and exhibitors.
Iola council members agreed Monday night to provide labor. The county will stand cost of materials, at $3,172.57. That decision came after courthouse maintenance supervisor Ron Holman agreed more power was needed for events.
The car show will be on the southwest part of the lawn, provided rain doesn’t push it onto West Street. Sunday’s farm-related activities at Strickler Dairy Farm will be accommodated by commissioners’ agreement to close Nevada Road from Kentucky to the U.S. 169.
COMMISSIONERS reviewed first-year statistics of the county providing congregate and home-delivered meals for the elderly.
County Clerk Sherrie Riebel said the 12-month total was 15,831. Net cost to the county was $22,131.30, after donations of $10,753.70 were deducted from total food costs of $32,885.
The county took control of the program after Sheriff Bryan Murphy agreement to have them prepared in the kitchen where they also are for inmates.
Fall festival events taking shape
Efforts to offer a beer garden is one of the features Farm-City Days organizers hope to use to grow the fall festival into one of the premier events in southeast Kansas.
As reported elsewhere in today’s Register, Allen County commissioners declined to allow any sort of alcohol on the courthouse lawn, but left open the door for a beer garden on Jefferson Avenue or other nearby public venues, if the Iola City Council gives its approval.
