Columbus councilmen have approved revisions to a recently passed ordinance on leasing property for events with alcohol.
The original version of the ordinance, which passed last month, forced all building owners to apply for a permit if they wanted to hold an event where alcohol was to be served and more than 100 people were expected.
Now, each owner that has not had an instance of violent crime at one of its events in the past five years is exempt from that requirement.
Owners who are exempt now but whose property becomes the site of such incidents, which include fights, riots or gunshots that result in injury or death, will be required to come into accordance with the new ordinance. If the owner does so for two years following having the exemption revoked, he will once again be exempt. Owners who have had repeated instances of violence on their property can lose their rights to host such events permanently. Owners who don’t fall under that exemption will have to provide their name, the lessee’s name, the person responsible for ensuring compliance, date and time of the event, number of people expected and a certificate of liability insurance for at least $250,000.
There must be a security guard for every 50 people at events that would not be exempt. Fire and police personnel would be able to enter the building whenever they wish to ensure safety and check IDs to make sure minors are not consuming alcohol. The event can be shut down if a party attendee is found drinking under age.
Violators would be charged with misdemeanors and fined $500 for first offenses and $1,000 for subsequent violations, plus denial of future permits.
If an application is incomplete, the owner can be denied the permit, and future permits can be denied if officials find there has been a substantial violation in the terms of the permit or if the number of people in attendance exceed how many the permit stated were expected.
The new ordinance does not apply to restaurants or bars that have liquor and beer licenses.
Discussion of implementing new regulations surfaced after a May shooting at the Columbus Fairgrounds resulted in the death of a 21-year-old.
That venue has been and will be the venue of Roast-n-Boast, a barbecue cooking competition scheduled for later this month. Festival organizer Mike Law said he could not comply with the stipulation requiring a security guard for every 50 people expected because he didn’t have the funds budgeted to pay that many people.
Law assured the council that he had spoken with officials from Columbus Police Department, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and Columbus Air Force Base about ensuring safety.
“Say, for example, we have 3,000 people,” Law said. “You’re talking about 60 (security guards) that we’d have to have.
“The horse is out of the barn,” Law added. “We’ve already done the advertising and we’ve already paid for the entertainment. If we have a year to fix what you want us to fix, we can get it done in a year, but we can’t get it done in eight days.”
Columbus Mayor Robert Smith suggested the council grandfather in the Roast-n-Boast event even though it will be at the fairgrounds because the event permit had been approved prior to the original ordinance being passed.
“I’ve attended Roast -n-Boast on two or three occasions and I don’t recall any incidents of a violent nature,” Smith said.
Councilmen unanimously approved a motion to approve the amendments and exempt the fairgrounds only for this year’s Roast-n-Boast.
In other business:
■ Councilmen retained Bridge and Watson, the firm that oversaw the city’s recently approved annexation plan, to work on redistricting the city to account for the new areas. The firm will be paid $8,000 for its services. A special meeting will be called to discuss the plan but a date has not been set;
■ Smith swore in three new police officers: Andy Hood, Mark Whitaker, and Christopher Ware, as well as two sergeants, James P. Smith and John Bishop;
■ Councilmen approved placing an all-way stop sign at the intersection of Short Third Avenue and 17th Street North and replace a stop sign at Short Third Avenue North at the three-way intersection of 16th Street North;
■ After discussing the matters in executive session, councilmen upheld Columbus Police Department Chief Tony Carleton’s decision not to promote an officer, terminated two public works employees and approved a modified schedule for an employee with a disabled relative. The council has fired four public works employees in a month.
Nathan Gregory covers city and county government for The Dispatch.
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