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Falls City Residents Discuss Alcohol on Public Property Concerns with Council

By John NIxon

10/02/2017

(KLZA)-- The issue of alcohol on public property was back before the City Council in Falls City during their September 18th meeting.

Nicole Merz and Brittany Huppert who have leased Prichard Auditorium for wedding receptions later this year raised their concerns about being allowed to have alcohol served at those events following a recent Council vote.

During the September 6th Council meeting, a proposed amendment to the Falls City Municipal Code banning open containers of alcohol on public property came up one vote short of moving forward, brining into question the future of events allowing alcohol to be served at Prichard Auditorium.

The intent was to clear up the language in the code, but required approval from a majority of the Council to pass.

Merz suggested it is the Council members to do what is best for Falls City, rather than vote based on their personal opinion. She asked if it was best to force events with large crowds such as wedding receptions, Christmas party’s, and others out of town.

Merz told the Council she is planning a large wedding reception and expects the event to be beneficial to local businesses such as motels, restaurants and gas stations with more than 250 people coming from out of town. She noted the daily costs to keep Prichard Auditorium running and asked why you would turn away events generating revenue to help pay those expenses?

Fourth Ward Council member Jim Wisdom who voted against the proposal explained he has no problem with events with alcohol at the Auditorium but does not believe you should have open containers in the parks.

Wisdom said that someone wanting beer in the park is what started the issue, saying everything was going fine until then.

None of the other Council members spoke. City Administrator Gary Jorn explained to the audience members in attendance that it is still possible for the Council to give favorable comment, to applications for special designated liquor licenses, which are issued by the State Liquor Commission, for Prichard Auditorium. Passage requires a majority vote.