I have a question. This post stated that the HCPD would be there to monitor the parks, are they planning to pull officers off the road to do this or will this be offered as an extra job? The county is already short officers and I cant beleive that they could afford to pull officers off the road.

Another question to add on to Dee's: IF HCPD will be on patrol during these functions, will they ensure that absolutely no children are present? How will that be enforced?

Other questions: Does it take alcohol to raise more money or awareness for the Veteran's Wall of Honor? Do we really have to resort to serving booze to make people care enough to support this worthy cause? (I so hope not!). Will the event be less memorable if alcohol is not served? (Again, I hope not!).

Another question: I think Heritage Park is now in the city limits, right? How does this factor into the equation? Can the city call all the shots regarding the serving of alcohol?

Bottom line: Where there are children (or where children will possibly be), alcohol is a terrible, terrible idea--and "morals" have nothing to do about it. Besides, Lake Dow Road is one of the curviest in the third district. I want to be absolutely sure my friends and family are not traveling on that road during an event where alcohol is being served at the park.

Penny's question is worthy of note:

I think Heritage Park is now in the city limits, right? How does this factor into the equation? Can the city call all the
shots regarding the serving of alcohol?

Legally, NO the City cannot call all the shots. Whether the city limits includes the park is moot. The city cannot legally pass an ordinance that violates a county ordinance. Unless the county ordinance is amended, the city's actions have no lasting meaning.

(Kinda like a prohibition against recording a public meeting)

Heritage remains a county park funded, maintained and continually improved by county general fund and SPLOST revenues.

I want to say that I have no problem with alcoholic beverages. Chastain or Peidmont parks are good examples of having a good time on public property.

Let them change the ordinance. Big Deal.

BeerGuy, you are missing a point. Our parks are safety zones for families, singles and kids. Allowing alcohol at special events today will surely lead to a total acceptance in the future.

I agree there is no problem with people who like to drink. But there is a time and place. Our parks are not it.

I am standing outside the discussions and negotiations between the city and county. One conversation with a commissioner and a conversation with a fellow concerned citizen tell me one thing: The county commissioners are in the loop and supported Tim Coley's referral of the ordinance to the city.

There is a sense from the BoC that the park being inside the city gives weight to supporting the ordinance. I say that is justification for a decision they already made.

To be fair, the BoC has not formally discussed or voted on amending the ordinance. I was told that the matter would come up at the Mon. 10/15 or Tues. 10/16 meeting.

I stated my concerns in the original post. Today I learned from a fellow concerned citizen that the County Park & Recreation Department has a little different twist on interpretation:

The McDonough ordinance clearly states

... alcoholic beverages may be served and consumed in Avalon and Heritage Park, sections 5.24.03 and 5.24.04 notwithstanding, at an authorized catered function.

If patrons decide to contribute at the $320 level, I am told, the patrons may bring their own beer and/or wine to the event.

What I see is a very slippery slope.

It may seem that the whole deal was preconceived and planned for a speedy vote. And if nobody said anything it appears the county would simply change the ordinance and claim "legal counsel said it was ok," or "we had to follow the city's lead."

Let's see what they actually do with this kettle of fish.

I can just see it now, "Bubba" and "DJ Smooth", drunk Ripple at a hip-hop
/ country western concert catered by Budweiser, beat each other to death
with empty wine bottles while Little Johnny watches from the nearby street
in the car with his parents en route to a night soccer game!

How ill-conceived and stupid!!

Where there are children (or where children will possibly be), alcohol is a terrible, terrible idea--and "morals" have nothing to do about it.

Well, looks like you can never take the family out to Applebee's ever again...

Well, looks like you can never take the family out to Applebee's ever again...

Tou she! (Is that how you spell that?")

I think it's touche

"Well, looks like you can never take the family out to Applebee's ever again..."

I'll drink to THAT!

Applebee's is a private, for profit enterprise. The serve alcohol as part of their business.

If the commissioners want to change the ordinance, so be it. The change should be advertised and public input gathered. It should not be a backdoor deal to benefit a specific class of fund raising (special interest) organizations.

The laws should be consistent. Heritage Park should not be the focus because of a specific event scheduled four days hence.

Also, the prohibition of smoking was passed "for the kids" and because soccer moms thought it improper.

Picking and choosing which citizens are worthy of having their sensibilities protected is not good public policy.

For Jaime, Harry, Classical, and Joe:

Please don't tell me you can not tell the difference between children playing in a park (and oftentimes not paying attention to what is going on around them) and supervised children with their parents or other adults at an eating establishment?

Our children should feel safe at our county parks--adults oftentimes allow them to run around in parks unsupervised, so we should still try our best to keep the parks as safe as possible. Plan for the worst--hope for the best.

Regardless, the main point in all of this was the fact that our elected officials were going about this utilizing all the wrong ways. Folks will argue back and forth about the pros and cons of drinking in a public park until the cows come home; however, an unsupervised/unobserved government can and will run amuck if we allow it to.

I made no comment either for or against this issue, I simply corrected the spelling of "touche". For the record: Stockbridge does not allow alcoholic beverages in its parks and I cannot imagine any scenario that could pursuade me to change that.

This issue regarding alcoholic sales at the parks was defeated today at the BOC meeting. It was unanimously voted down.
Reid Bowman, District IV Commissioner

Stockbridge does allow it to be sold or distributed at the Merle Manders Center which shares a parking lot (there are 2 lots there but they share one with the park)with Clark Park which in my opinion is the same difference. Nothing good ever comes from drinking no matter where you do it - Doesnt the city own the Merle Manders Center?

Sorry 'bout that, Jazz. I was wearing my feelings on my keyboard.

I agree with you--I can't imagine any scenario, either.

Besides the inherent dangers, the way in which this "endeavor" sprang forth is absolutely devious.