The Keokuk City Council will not be changing the hours of outdoor concerts.
The panel voted 6-3, Thursday night, against an ordinance that would have forced concerts at locations where alcohol is sold to end at 10:00 P.M. on weeknights and 11:00 P.M. on weekends.
Two different “compromise” amendments also failed. One would have set the end time at 12:00 A.M. and the other would have required closure at 12:30 A.M.
All of the failed votes mean that the outdoor concerts can continue until 1:00 A.M.
The target of the ordinance was L-Treyn’s Bar and Grill, which is located along Main Street in downtown Keokuk.
L-Treyns holds about a dozen outdoor concerts each year.
Owner Larry Roberts says as many as 500 people from throughout the region attend the concerts, so it is a major boost to Keokuk.
He says he could be forced to close, though, without the late-night concerts because many of his customers work second shift.
That led 2nd Ward Alderman Mike Moore to remind the council that its action could affect Roberts’ family and its livelihood.
About a dozen people addressed the city council, Thursday night, about the ordinance and all but one of them opposed the shorter concert hours.
Several even told aldermen that they had more important things to do than set the hours for outdoor concerts.
Keith Oliver, who has attended multiple meetings, was the only person to support the shorter hours. He says he cannot sleep when one of the concerts is underway, as his house is just across Main Street on Blondeau Street.
3rd Ward Alderman Ron Payne proposed the change in concert times. He said after the meeting that he would not bring the issue up again based on the vote.
