INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The County Commission today approved a motion that could be a first step in allowing limited sale of alcoholic beverages at the county fairgrounds and south county Inter-generational recreation center.
Assistant County Administrator Michael Zito told the Commission the county has received many requests from for-profit and non-profit organizations to permit the sale of alcohol during events at the fairgrounds and recommended the Board consider a draft amendment to the county code that would permit such sales on an event-by-event basis.
The amendment is needed because Section 205 of the county code currently prohibits the sale of alcohol in county parks and that rule has traditionally been applied to the fairgrounds as well.
“The pavilion at the fairgrounds is air conditioned and it would make a fabulous venue for a wedding or a Jake Owen concert,” said Commissioner Wesley Davis, mentioning events where alcohol might normally be served. “If they can’t serve alcohol, people probably hold these events elsewhere.”
The county allows alcohol sales at publically-owned Sandridge Golf Club under its own license but the proposed amendment would not make the county the bartender at the fairgrounds or rec center.
Instead, anyone applying to sell alcohol at an event held at one of the two county facilities would have to have liquor license or employ a vender with one.
Organizations which already pay a fee to use county facilities would pay an additional fee for the alcohol sale permit, with for-profit groups paying a higher fee.
Applicants for an alcohol sale permit would have to make adequate plans for security or police presence and obtain any needed insurance.
Zito said some non-profits want to sell alcohol at their events to maximize their fundraising.
The motion approved today was to advertise the draft amendment in newspapers and inform the public of an upcoming public hearing where people will have an opportunity to say whether they like the idea of limited alcohol sales at the two county facilities or not.
“I don’t have a position on this,” said Commission Bob Solari. “I am interested in hearing what the community thinks.”