Keokuk, IA – The Keokuk City Council has been talking about where alcohol can be consumed for more than seven months.
The initial request came from an organization wanting to serve alcohol during a Cajun cookoff in Rand Park.
That request was denied, kicking off a lengthy debate.
The debate appeared to be coming to an end, two weeks ago, when the city council approved the first reading of an ordinance that would allow alcohol on any public site as long as they receive council approval.
The ordinance came up for a second vote Thursday night.
Five of the eight aldermen in attendance voted of it.
The fifth vote came from At-Large Alderman Dan Winn, who changed sides after previously voting against the measure.
The five council members than agreed to waive the third reading of the ordinance, which made everyone at last night's meeting think the issue was resovled.
At-Large Alderman Zane Zirkel objected, saying the topic was too controversial to allow the final reading to be waived.
It was several minutes after that that the confusion arrived.
Community Development Director Pam Broomhall spoke up, before the end of the meeting, to tell the council that city code requires a unanimous vote to waive a reading of an ordinance.
She says there is a chapter of city code that says a majority is needed.
Mayor Tom Marion, who has been serving as City Attorney, was not at the meeting so no one could offer a opinion as to whether the final vote was legal.
Several aldermen just said they would wait and see what happened with the vote.
A ruling could take place later today.