Elkhart County adopts rules for nongovernmental events on historic courthouse lawn and new judicial center; insurance requirement draws public concern

The Elkhart County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 29 unanimously approved an ordinance establishing rules and permit requirements for nongovernmental expressive activity on the historic Goshen Courthouse lawn and on the Elkhart County Judicial Center property.

County Attorney Steve Olson told commissioners the ordinance defines the two properties, creates a uniform, viewpoint-neutral application process and sets time, place and manner restrictions intended to allow expressive use while limiting county liability. "There is an ordinance already in place . . . going back to the 18 hundreds related to use of these properties," Olson said, and the new measure updates and clarifies those rules for the two locations and for the new judicial center property.

The ordinance requires a completed application signed by an on-site representative age 18 or older, and lists factors the commissioners may review from a viewpoint-neutral perspective, including prior compliance and whether the proposed use would interfere with government operations or public use. Olson said…