Jackson County Legislature approves license allowing KC Oktoberfest to use distributor refrigeration at Crown Center Square

The Jackson County Legislature on Sept. 11 approved Resolution 22032 authorizing Jackson County to execute a county license with KC Beer Company so the event organizer can secure a state temporary liquor license for KC Oktoberfest at Crown Center Square.

At a public hearing before the full Legislature, Legislator Sean Smith said the county was conducting the hearing because “the state statute ... specifies that we need to have a public hearing and we need to issue this license and then, the person that's getting the license takes that to the state.” Smith said the county had received the application in June but the process was delayed, prompting the special meeting to accommodate the event’s state deadline.

Kathy Holly, a representative of KC Beer Company, told legislators the county license was needed because the for‑profit organizer plans to use a distributor’s refrigeration unit and state rules require a special permit for that use. “If I was a 501(c)(3), I would not have to come to you because they have a different set of rules,” Holly said. She asked the Legislature to approve the license so the group could proceed with the longstanding festival.

Michelle Yarbaka, who questioned the timeline, noted the delay had been in the county legal department rather than administration and said staff had to assemble statutory backup documentation. Yarbaka said the state recently began enforcing an older statute and that last year the state allowed the event to proceed while county staff prepared for the current requirement.

Mary Jo, Jackson County Clerk, administered the oath to witnesses before public testimony. After the hearing the Legislature moved to adopt Resolution 22032; a roll call recorded seven yes votes (Anderson; Peyton Smith Abarca; Husky; Franklin; Lauer; Smith; McGee) and two members absent, and the resolution was approved.

The license approval authorizes county execution of the required county-level license that the organizer will use to obtain the state temporary liquor permit for the KC Oktoberfest event expected to draw large crowds. Legislators said they will follow up to try to streamline the process for future years so the county and event organizers are not facing the same last‑minute deadline.