Keokuk, IA – City code prohibits alcohol in public parks or on public streets or sidewalks in Keokuk.
Exemptions have always been granted, though, for events like Rollin on the River and Wine over Water.
That process was called into question, last summer, when a request came in to allow alcohol in Rand Park for a fundraiser.
The eventual denial sparked six months of heated discussions and disagreements.
But the stalemate started to come to an end last night.
The city council approved the first reading of an ordinance that would allow alcohol on public property during special events with city council approval.
1st Ward Alderman Mike O'Connor says the change simply brings city code in line with past practices.
He says Keokuk must keep its opportunities open by not limiting locations for future special events.
The vote was 5-2 with two council members being absent.
3rd Ward Alderman Ron Payne opposes allowing alcohol in residential parks, including Rand and Kilbourne.
He says he is worried about an impaired driver leaving an event on one of those parks and injuring or even killing a child playing in the park.
Payne says he would support allowing alcohol in locations like Victory Park and the Observation Deck.
Thursday night's vote was simply the first on the alcohol issue.
It must still be approved two more times, with the votes tentatively scheduled for Thursday, December 15th.
If the votes do not occur that night, the issue could be further delayed until the new council is seated at the start of the new year.