It appeared they were at an impasse.
Josh Works had asked Humboldt city council members to close off three of the streets surrounding the downtown square for the better part of the Aug. 14 Water Wars.
Dan Onnen protested, saying the 2019 event “cost me an entire day of business,” at his liquor store, Freedom Liquor, on the south side of the square.
“I lost hundreds of dollars in sales that day,” Onnen said. “I’m all for A Bolder Humboldt, but I also have a business to run.”
A Bolder Humboldt is the umbrella for the activity that in 2019 attracted more than 1,000 participants.
This year, Works is eyeing to double the crowd.
When Police Chief Shannon Moore suggested closing only one lane of traffic in front of Onnen’s store, Works balked.
“This is only one of a very few major events that Humboldt has,” he said in justifying the exception.
The room fell into an uncomfortable silence.
Works cleared his throat, then turned from the podium to address Onnen one-on-one.
“Dan, do you have any suggestions as to how we might accommodate your situation?”
“No. Especially with it being on a Saturday, my busiest day,” Onnen replied.
Works nodded in understanding.
“I wonder,” Works then said, “if there’s a way between A Bolder Humboldt and your business that we can better leverage the number of people who will be there.”
Then, as an afterthought, Works said, “We also have the beer garden that we want to talk with you about.”
