County May Allow Consumption of Beer and Wine in Parks–Under Special Conditions

The Hamilton county commission will likely hear from constituents this week about a proposal that would would allow consumption of beer and wine in county parks under special conditions.
The county staff says the current rules don’t allow any real control over the use of alcohol now—and a change could be a source of new revenue.

Hamilton county has never allowed the consumption of alcohol in county parks. But perhaps the worst kept secret is that people drink there all the time anyway..concealing it in other cups.

County Director of General Services Lee Norris told commissioners he wants to change that.

LEE NORRIS, DIR. OF GENERAL SERVICES   “We’d like to focus this to at least put some kind of control on it, and also attract the business that we’re speaking of..specifically wedding receptions, class reunions, and other certain events…all that would be monitored by the special events committee.”

That brought a quick response from Commissioner Greg Beck.

COMMISSIONER GREG BACK, DISTRICT  “Well I thought these places were set aside for family, and decent activities, and we’re moving toward where everybody’s going to be getting drunk, carrying guns, in park area…that what are we talking about …what have we..what have we gone down to?”

Norris says the county has events like fishing tournaments all the time and doesn’t make anything from them.
He says organizations would have to apply and get approval from a special events committee to serve alcohol.
And they’d have to hire a licensed alcohol provider.

COMMISSIONER JOE GRAHAM, DISTRICT   “So that alcohol provider would also not only be licensed but be responsible for any under age consumption, any person that would be to getting wrong or illegally, correct.”

LEE NORRIS  “That’s correct commissioner, in my experience, that has worked out very, very well…where the burden of proof is on the person who holds the license…because they know, if they violate those regulations, they will lose their license.”

The commission will vote on that at next weeks meeting.