By a 3-2 vote, the East Ridge City Council passed on first reading an amendment to a city ordinance that would allow the sale of beer in Camp Jordan during special events, Thursday night during its regular meeting.

Vice Mayor Larry Sewell was joined by Councilman Brian Williams and Councilwoman Esther Helton in voting for the measure, while Councilman Jacky Cagle and Mayor Brent Lambert voted no.

Prior to discussion on the ordinance, citizens were given an opportunity to address the council. About a dozen people from Fellowship Baptist Church sat together near the front on the left side of the council chambers. Chris Peponis, the pastor of the church, said he spoke for his “church family” when he pleaded with the council to reject selling beer in Camp Jordan.

Peponis said that his family and congregation frequents the park and he wanted it to be a family friendly place. Having “liquor” in the park would be counterproductive to making East Ridge a better place.

“I can’t stand being around drunks,” he said.

Peponis said that he and his congregation “will work against anyone who votes for (beer sales in Camp Jordan).”

Theresa Chumley told the council that not all churches are against beer being served on city property during special events. Chumley said that at Jones Memorial United Methodist Church, where she attends, “I was told not to judge.” 

Other citizens, both pro and con on the measure, spoke passionately about the issue. Mayor Brent Lambert thanked citizens for their input, and said he wished more citizens would speak out more frequently on issues before the board.

Cagle, who has been against “beer in the park” from the beginning, proceeded to dig into details in the ordinance and objected to a section that would allow consumption of beer on sidewalks and rights-of-way on city streets. He painted a scenario of next year’s Christmas Parade where vendors would be allowed to sell beer up and down Ringgold Road during the event.

It was explained to him that the provision was included as a result of Chattanooga considering allowing alcohol consumption on Station Street adjacent to the Choo-Choo.

Much of the two-hour discussion was between City Manager Scott Miller and Karen Shostak, an affiliate with Friends of the Festival and an expert on special event alcohol sales, focusing on the application process of gaining a special permit and regulating a special event in the park.

There was discussion about the existing contract between the City and Fun Time Food for concessions at Camp Jordan. It was pointed out by City Attorney Mark Litchford that Fun Time Food had no beer license and would currently be unable to take part in any special event beer sales. Litchford went on to say that selling beer would not fall under the existing contract anyway.

A good part of the discussion focused on who could apply for a special event permit. Shostak said that only caterers, non-profit organizations and political organizations are allowed under state law to sell beer for special events. There was some confusion about the “applicant” being the promoter/producer of the event, or the caterer and non-profit organizations.

It was pointed out that the sale of non-malt alcoholic beverages (anything over 5% alcohol by volume, which would include wine and liquor) is regulated by the state.

This prompted Mayor Lambert to ask if the ordinance under consideration was for the sale of “alcohol” or only beer? Would passage of the ordinance create a “loophole” allowing anyone to just set up shop at Camp Jordan during a special event and serve wine or liquor and bypass city rules? 

City Attorney Litchford said, “this (ordinance) carves out an exception only for beer.” 

At last, Cagle looked out into the audience and asked Stump Martin, the city’s Director of Parks and Recreation, if serving beer in the park would be an asset to Camp Jordan?

Martin said that he had spent a lifetime promoting kids: “I can’t do that.”

He tempered that statement by saying that “there are so many moving parts to this that I’m not sure I understand it.”

The ordinance will now go on the agenda for the Dec. 14 meeting for consideration of final passage on a second reading.