Board delays decision on lease of school parking to Missing Mountain Brewing after insurance, signage and liability questions
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Summary
Trustees postponed a vote on a one-year license to allow Missing Mountain Brewing Company to use a school parking lot, citing unanswered questions about insurance limits, signage and vehicles left overnight.
The Cuyahoga Falls Board of Education on Wednesday postponed a proposed license agreement that would let Missing Mountain Brewing Company use a district parking lot in the evenings, after trustees raised insurance, signage and liability concerns.
The board heard a series of clarifications about the one-year license during the meeting but voted to delay a final decision to the board's Feb. 12 meeting so staff can provide additional information about signage language, towing procedures and other safeguards.
Why it matters: The proposed arrangement would generate $12,000 in base payments in the first year ($1,000 monthly and $1,000 annually for maintenance) and a $4,000 contribution toward cameras, district officials said. Trustees expressed support for district revenue and improved cameras but said the public-association risks and details of enforcement need to be clearer.
What was proposed: Under the draft license, the brewery would use a portion of a newly built parking lot on campus in the evenings and weekends. The company agreed to insurance coverage of $2,500,000 per occurrence and a $5,000,000 aggregate. The district's carrier asked that the brewery maintain higher limits than the district carries.
Board concerns and staff responses: Board members asked whether vehicles left overnight could be towed, who would perform towing and whether posted signs could appear to endorse alcohol near school property. Superintendent Dr. Selico and legal/operations staff said the district controls signage approval and described a standard police-initiated towing procedure for abandoned vehicles; they also said the district would perform regular plowing and would negotiate language to limit perceived association with alcohol-serving uses.
Board action: Trustee Anthony Gomez made a motion to postpone consideration until the Feb. 12 meeting to allow staff to gather the outstanding details; the motion was seconded by Trustee Schaefer and passed unanimously on a roll call vote.
Next steps: Board members asked staff to coordinate with the brewery on specific sign language, confirm the towing protocol with the police department and provide written guarantees about insurance placement and any operational restrictions before the February vote.