The Lowell City Council will review a proposal to serve alcohol during Mudtown Days at its regular meeting tonight.
The proposed ordinance would allow the sale of beer and wine in Ward Nail Park at the annual event this year, it states.
At A Glance
Main Street Rogers started Oktoberfest in 2013, said Dana Mather, the organization’s director. The event was created around the idea of selling beer and attracted about 1,000 people its first year and 4,000 people its second year.
"After which time the event and the anticipated beer and wine sales shall be evaluated by this City Council to determine if such sales shall be permitted in the Lowell parks at any other time," the draft ordinance states.
The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m at Lowell City Hall, 216 N. Lincoln St.
A similar ordinance was brought before the council in April but failed to pass. Thomas Evers, Janette Lasater and Ronnie Breland voted against it. Lasater and Breland are no longer on the council.
Lowell Alderman Dean Bitner brought the issue before the Ordinance Committee last month. The drafting of an ordinance was approved at that time.
The ordinance states that the sales must take place at a designated location at the event. It does not mention extra security for the event.
"We will have our own police officers there," Bitner said. "We already have a pretty good police presence at the event and don't have any problems."
Alcohol sales could bring more people to Lowell for the May event, Bitner said. He said it could be an opportunity to expose people to the amenities the city has to offer. It also could increase revenue for the event, he said.
"I think there are some that will oppose it but that is OK," Bitner said.
Bitner said only a handful of residents attended the Ordinance Committee. One was against it and the others were for it, he said.
"I have received no calls on it," Bitner said. "I have reached out to a few people in the neighborhood and most everyone is on board."
Alderman Eric Schein has voted in favor of serving alcohol at events in the past. He said Monday that he was on the fence about how to vote tonight.
"I am waiting for the council meeting," Schein said. "We just defeated a proposal [in April]. I am trying to figure out what happened in the last couple of months."
There were an overwhelming amount of residents opposed to alcohol sales at the festival in the past, Schein said.
"I am originally from an area where alcohol was served at events," Schein said. "It was a different setting but here we are in the Bible belt and from what I understand there are a lot of citizens of Lowell who don't feel we need to have beer at the city events."
Schein said its possible to draw people to Lowell in other ways. He said this could include promoting some of the local businesses in town.
"I know it stems around wanting to build profit around things like Mudtown Days," Schein said. "There are a lot of better ways to increase profit instead of making people uncomfortable at their own city events."
Cities in Benton County are newly facing the decision to allow alcohol sales at community events. Benton County voters approved off-premises sale of alcohol in November 2012. Prior to that, alcohol could only be sold at members-only private clubs.
Rogers started allowing the sale of alcohol at community events in 2013. Events in Bentonville continue to be alcohol free.
NW News on 02/17/2015