Family Days can sell beer at annual summer festival, says City Council

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by Miles Jung-Kilbreath

Reporter

Streetsboro -- Guests at Streetsboro Family Days this July will be able to raise a glass of beer during festivities, after City Council unanimously voted March 24 to allow beer sales at City Park during the event.

"This could help take Family Days to the next level," said Streetsboro Family Days Chair and former Council member Chuck Kocisko told Council.

At a January Council meeting, Kocisko asked to Council to reconsider allowing beer sales at the event that takes place July 24 through 27.

Council previously declined to allow beer sales at the park in early 2006.

Since the festival has never sold beer before, Kocisko said he doesn't know how much money the organization would make from sales. He said St. Joseph's Church's Annual Ox Roast in Mantua makes around $40,000 from beer sales.

Resident John Ataman spoke against serving beer during at the March 17 City Council meeting.

"I'll fight like hell on letting you sell beer," he said, asking Council to let voters decide the matter at the ballot.

Kocisko said the beer would be sold in a tent near the main festival site in the parking lot at Campus Elementary School.

Kocisko added the area would be roped off, and beer drinkers would not be allowed to leave the roped off area.

"We do this for the community," said Kocisko. "We are a non-profit organization, and we will not see a dime of this money on a personal level."

While pricing and a vendor for the beer have not been designated yet, Kocisko said Streetsboro Family Days volunteers would watch to make sure people do not drink too much or become too aggressive.

Streetsboro Family Days has not set a limit on the number of drinks a person could have, he said.

According to the ordinance Council passed permitting beer sales, Streetsboro Family Days must provide insurance that "is adequate in the view of the city law department."

Kocisko said Streetsboro Family Days takes out a $2 million insurance policy for the festival, covering the city and the schools adjacent to City Park, which he believes the law department would find "adequate."

E-mail:
mjung-kilbreath@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3942