Who’s paying the bills?

The city of Eden does not allow alcoholic beverages on city property, and that’s understandable. But exceptions must be made to the rule, and Riverfest would have provided the premium opportunity for such an exception.
But the city leaders won’t hear of it, going as far as removing a proposal from Tuesday’s council agenda to amend the code to allow alcohol on city property. The move effectively kills any chance of opening additional “beer gardens” for this weekend’s Riverfest, which is probably the most popular and best-attended festival in Rockingham County. Alcohol will be available at the festival, but thanks only to a property owner who hosts the roped-in “garden.”
In a memo to the council, mayor and city manager Sept. 3, Mike Dougherty, director of economic development, asked the city to consider amending the ordinance governing alcohol on city property. Dougherty goes as far as detailing rules for the gardens, ensuring all laws regarding the sale and consumption of alcohol are followed.
The change would have allowed downtown businesses, such as The Front Porch – a wine shop – to sell alcohol outside their stores, according to the memo. People buying alcohol would wear wristbands, a practice common at concerts and other large events, and access to the “gardens” would be strictly controlled. Alcohol was sold at the now-defunct Apple Festival, but that event was held at the Eden Mall on private property.
“To my knowledge,” Dougherty writes, “there has never been an alcohol-related incident resulting from the beer gardens at either festival.” He also points out that corporate neighbors such as Karastan Rug Mill and Miller Brewing Co., in Eden for 80 and 30 years, respectively, would be unable to celebrate their successes in venues such as Freedom Park because of the restrictions on alcohol.
That brings us to Miller, which employs some 500 people, pays taxes and is largely responsible for Eden’s relatively inexpensive water bills. The company is a major sponsor of Riverfest, contributing money to elevate the offerings available at the event and allowing the city to bring in national acts such as Trent Tomlinson and The Fixx.
The alcohol issue was raised two years ago, and the council refused to address it. The city’s leaders, apparently, don’t want to upset some of their constituents, including churches and local congregations. That’s fine, but the city would do well to remember who’s paying the bills in Eden.