City discusses alcohol in parks

Beatrice City Council member Ted Fairbanks said he’d rather not think about 1992, the last time alcohol consumption in Beatrice City Parks was an issue.

“I sat through this in 1992 and it wasn’t pretty,” Fairbanks said. “If it’s going to reach the epic proportions it did before I don’t want any part of it.”

As repeat offenders make it more difficult for the Beatrice Police Department to enforce the alcohol ban in city parks, Chief Bruce Lang asked the council for direction Monday night.

Either make the ordinance more binding, or amend the ordinance to allow alcohol in the parks, Lang said.

The idea was first discussed at a council subcommittee meeting  May 26.

Lang told the council that alcohol is often present at the Sertoma Cabin, located in Chautauqua Park, due to its use as a reception hall for many events.

On Monday, the council discussed the possibility of repealing the ban on alcohol in city parks.

The subcommittee members, Alan Fetty and Jason Schmale, with Jason Moore absent from the meeting, said they did not support sale or distribution of alcohol, but thought further discussion on consumption in parks was reasonable.

Lang said he is aware that alcohol is being consumed on a personal basis in the private-owned cabin on park property, as well as in city camping areas.

But with the current ordinance, that isn’t legal.

“We need to make it easier for those assigned to enforce it,” Fetty said.

“I would just as soon there be no drinking in parks,” Moore said.

He said, being a father, he doesn’t want his children to be exposed to alcohol while in a park.

“We do not need booze to have a good time,” he said.

He also worries about the higher possibility of drunk driving.

“You drive there. You drink. You’re going to drive home,” he said.

Fairbanks told his colleagues that he doesn’t want the discussion to get to the degree it did in 1992.

That year, the council funded parts of Homestead Days.

Fairbanks’ wife, Julie, was the Chamber president at the time.

The Chamber had noticed that beer gardens at other events brought upwards of $20,000 in revenue to the area.

A council member, who is now deceased, “took it on with a vengeance,” Fairbanks said.

Fairbanks said he and his wife received threatening phone calls and letters about the beer garden. A petition circulated around the city receiving thousands of signatures to bring the ordinance of alcohol in city parks to a vote.

Voters passed the current ban of alcohol in city parks.

When the Chamber did have the scheduled beer garden in Chautauqua Park, people against the beer garden lined the streets to see who was coming in and out of the beer garden.

“It was just horrible. It pitted the community against each other,” Fairbanks said.

He hopes this doesn’t happen with the conversation this time around.

“If the issue is the building, sell it to them and get it off the city land,” Fairbanks said of the Sertoma Cabin.

Council member Dwight Parde suggested offering designated areas for drinking.

“The campers aren’t driving anywhere. We could put a limit on it, a case limit, no kegs,” he said.

Council member Gary Lytle said he has an issue for campers who “live” in the parks all summer long.

“That’s their home,” he said.

Lytle said he doesn’t feel comfortable with having police come into people’s “homes” in campgrounds and searching for alcohol.

He said he’s also been one to drink in the softball parking lot after a game.

“But I would be just as happy doing it in my own backyard, too,” he said. “I’m glad we’re not voting on it tonight.”

Council member Calvin Carey said he would like to get opinions from his constituents on the subject before moving forward.

Tara Kuipers with the Gage County MAPS (Multiple Agencies Partnering for Success) Coalition told the council she disagrees with allowing alcohol in city parks.

She said allowing alcohol in more areas increases other public disturbances, such as vandalism and fighting.

“Adults in Gage County have a lot of venues where drinking is a legal activity for adults. We don’t have a lot of places where our kids can go that are free from alcohol. We do have that right now. What a fantastic thing we can tout,” she said.

She said national trends show more cities are adopting stricter restrictions on alcohol in public parks, rather than loosening them.

“We can go a night without popping a beer open,” Kuipers said.

“I get a little tired of government as a whole telling people what they can or can’t do,” Lytle said.

He would prefer less restrictions be placed on Beatrice residents.

Schmale said he hopes more members of the public share their opinion as the discussion continues into the future.

“Call your council member,” Moore urged.

Council member wards, names and phone numbers can be found at the City of Beatrice Web site, beatrice.ne.gov, or on the Daily Sun’s editorial page.

Fetty said discussion on the topic needs to continue.

Lang said he wants offenders of the ban, including campers and those using the Sertoma cabin, to realize that the alcohol ban in city parks is still in effect and will be enforced.

In other action, the council:

— Presented Emily Bartholomew with a Certificate of Appreciation for her work to plant more trees in Beatrice. Bartholomew has plans to plant two Maple trees next to the Beatrice Animal Shelter, 300 Ella St., and two more, including flowers, at Hannibal Park. Her “Green Team” raised over $200 for the project.

— Mayor Dennis Schuster read a proclamation making June 21 the Gage County United Way Day of Action. The day calls for the community to respond to a call-of-action by the United Way, whether residents choose to give, advocate or volunteer on the longest day of the year.

n Entered into a lease with the Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerce for the use of City Auditorium, 205 N. Fourth St., office space. Lori Warner, president of the Chamber, said the Chamber plans to use the space for about three years. The lease runs for one year, but can be renewed upon its termination, June 30, 2010. The Chamber agrees in the lease to pay 50 percent of the remodeling costs of the old council chambers room, up to a maximum of $3,500. The Chamber agreed to pay one dollar per year for the term of the lease. Both members of the contract can terminate the lease with 60 days written notice.

— Approved, 8-0, Ordinance No. 09-022, establishing salaries for various City employees. The approved salaries are as follows:

City of Beatrice employees: Annette Garton, Secretary II, $15.04 hourly; Cathy Roever, Account Clerk II, $16.18 hourly; Traci Baehr, Police Secretary, $15.41 hourly; Kerri McGrury, Victim Assistance Coordinator, $15.80 hourly; Mark Pethoud, Buildings Supervisor, $20.73 hourly; Linda Koch, City Clerk/ Assistant Treasurer; $2,067.20 biweekly; and Gerald Lamkin, Police Captain, $2,176 biweekly.

Beatrice Board of Public Works employees: Erin Saathoff, Account Clerk II, $14.33 hourly; Linda Creevan, Account Clerk II, $15.80 hourly; Janet Byars, Account Clerk III, $18.76 hourly; Dean Kelch, Chief Plant Operator, WPC, $20.26 hourly; Chris Fangmeier, Journeyman Lineman, $23.49 hourly; Justin Jenkins, Journeyman Lineman, $23.49 hourly; Brad Bletscher, Journeyman Lineman, $25.90 hourly; Troy Bruna, Journeyman Lineman, $25.90 hourly; Kirk Laue, Journeyman Lineman, $25.90 hourly; Mark Schaaf, Journeyman Lineman, $25.90 hourly; Jeremy Stephens, Journeyman Lineman, $25.90 hourly; Matt Strouf, Second Class Lineman, $19.28 hourly; Jean VanLaningham, Secretary II, $13.99 hourly; Robert Wallen, Sub/Tran Foreman, $27.90 hourly; Michael Lohmeyer, Utilities Maintenance Worker I, $16.63 hourly; Kevin D. Petersen, Utilities Maintenance Worker I, $16.63 hourly; Dallas Burroughs, Working Foreman, Street, $21.27 hourly.