News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Livingston’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen amended and approved an ordinance Monday allowing special events to serve alcohol at Central Park.
Pastor John Copeland spoke to the Board in opposition of the original ordinance.
“It seems to me there are those who are obsessed with making alcohol available to as many people as they possibly can,” Copeland said. “It is also very apparent that those who want to make it more available are those who do not really have to deal with the effects of alcohol.”
Local resident Randy Neff was also opposed to the initial ordinance, but requested the amendment to prevent the possibility of alcohol consumption in other public spaces.
“Would you as a body consider striking that part of that [ordinance] out so that only these events could be held at Central Park?” Asked Neff. “Give us the… consolation of thinking and believing that we don’t have to worry about the ballpark and we don’t have to worry about the park over by the high school.”
Alderman Kelly Coleman voted in favor of the ordinance, saying some members of the public did not fully understand the meaning behind it.
“There are a number of people in our community who, in my opinion, have valid concerns,” Coleman said, “but I believe there’s been a [misconception] to a great number of those people as I’ve asked them to describe to me what they perceive what they believe the ordinance to be about. As I’ve heard many many times, ‘well it’s to allow the park to serve beer and wine and to sell beer and wine.’ That’s not really accurate at all.”
Downtown Revitalization Committee Chair Ray Evans explained the ordinance would add additional restrictions to groups wanting to serve alcohol at the park during special events.
“If the host of the special event wants to serve alcoholic beverages, there’s an additional $100 permit fee for that,” Evans said. “They have to go before the Beer Board in order to obtain the special permit in order to do that. No one would be allowed inside the park at a special event that is underage.”
Groups are able to rent specific sections rather than the entirety of Central Park if needed.
Aldermen Chris Speck motioned to amend the ordinance during the Board of Mayor and Alderman meeting based on Neff’s suggestion. Both the amendment and the ordinance passed 5-0 with Alderman David Langford absent from the meeting.
