Keokuk, IA – Keokuk has an ordinance that prohibits open alcohol containers on public property. Public property includes parks, streets, and alleys.
The city council has been granting exemptions for special events for years.
It turns out, though, that they did not really have the authority to do so, based on the language of the ordinance.
The panel decided to change the language to allow the council to approve/disapprove of special events involving alcohol.
That change has gone nowhere, though, as a couple of city council members (Ron Payne and Zane Zirkel) have fought to have "family-friendly" parks designated as locations where alcohol can never be allowed.
With no agreement reached, the city council has had to write each new exemption into code.
Prior to this week's meeting, for example, Keokuk's City Code prohibited alcohol on public property EXCEPT for the 2011 version of Rollin on The River.
The city council voted to change that ordinance, Thursday night, to prohibit alcohol on public property EXCEPT for the 2011 version of Wine Over Water, which is scheduled for October 1 on the railroad bridge's observation deck.
This is the procedure the city council will have to take until a general ordinance can be developed.
The panel had an opportunity to vote on an ordinance that would require city council permission for any alcohol-related event on public property.
There was no vote taken, though because procedural issues required a unanimous vote.
It was apparent that Zirkel and Payne's opposition meant a unanimous vote was not possible, so the city council ignored the ordinance.
Several aldermen did say they wanted the general alcohol ordinance on the agenda for the October 6 meeting.
That is because a unanimous vote would no longer be needed.