Scioto County Commissioners are considering a request from the Scioto County Fair Board to permit liquor sales at the fairgrounds.
At Thursday’s SCC meeting, Commissioner Scottie Powell said there’s a lot more the commissioners need to know before they make a decision.
Commissioner Cathy Coleman has been communicating with the fair board on the issue. She said this does not mean alcohol would be sold at the fair. “This is for special events only. There would be strict conditions to make sure the sales are overseen by authorities.” She also said she would like to see prohibitions against bringing in coolers or alcohol being consumed in the grandstand. Coleman said she would prefer something along the lines of a beer garden.
Powell said the fair board believes alcohol sales will help generate revenue and boost flagging attendance at the fairgrounds.
Commissioner Davis said he has a lot of liability concerns and how much revenue would actually be generated. He cited an event several years ago at the fairground where alcohol was served, and things go out of hand. “It was not pretty.”
Powell said he wasn’t opposed to the idea. “I’m opposed to parts of the idea. It’s not a fair activity for me. But more in terms of special events. If someone has a wedding out there, would they be allowed to have an open bar? With the closing of the Welcome Center, we don’t have a lot of event space. Would this help rent out more fair buildings and generate revenue? I need to see something more concrete.”
The commissioners decided that Commissioner Coleman would ask the fair board for a more detailed proposal before making any decision.
