East Ridge Beer Board approves two beer permits and elects new vice chair

The East Ridge Beer Board approved a temporary special-event beer permit for WWRD Concession, a retail beer permit transfer for Sonny's Neighborhood Market at 1706 Keeble Street and elected Board member Robert Maynard as vice chair at a meeting held at Camp Jordan.

The votes were unanimous on the two permit approvals and on the vice chair election. The board also approved previous meeting minutes, with one abstention.

Vanessa Henry, who identified herself as the owner/operator of WWRD Concession, said she is taking over the business and was applying for a one-year beer permit for special events. "My name is Vanessa Henry. I took over... My business name is WWRD concession, and I am applying for a 1 year beer permit," Henry said. Parks Director Shawna Skiles told the board that Henry was awarded a two-year concession contract for Camp Jordan and will seek permits for individual special events as needed. "Vanessa was awarded our contract this year. She has a 2 year contract with us," Skiles said.

Skiles listed events that currently use beer sales inside Camp Jordan's arena, saying they are confined to the arena and do not extend into the wider park. She cited MMA fights, an event called "Guns and Hoses," Ducks Unlimited and roller derby as current users of the concession. On police presence, Skiles told the board it "depends on the event and what they require. It's 1 to 2 to 3 to 4," and indicated at least one officer is present when beer is served.

The board voted to approve Henry's permit after a motion and second; the roll call vote recorded Board member Cunningham, Board member Maynor, Board member Middleton, Board member Storey and Chairperson Cowan as voting yes.

The board next considered a request to transfer or reissue a retail beer permit for Sunny's Neighborhood Market at 1706 Keeble Street following the death of the previous permit holder's husband. An applicant speaking on behalf of the store said the transfer is requested so the business may continue; she said the store has been in operation since 1998 and that "Myself, Maria Abel and Melody Abel will be also maintaining the things for her on the store." The board voted to approve the retail permit application, with a roll call recording the same five board members voting yes.

At the meeting the board also approved the minutes from its prior meeting; the roll call on the minutes recorded Board member Middleton as abstaining and the other members voting yes.

The board moved to fill a vacancy in the vice chair position after Josh Walker resigned. A motion was made to appoint Robert Maynard to the post; the board voted in favor, with Board member Cunningham, Maynor (Maynard), Middleton, Storey and Chairperson Cowan recorded as voting yes. The board then adjourned.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of prior meeting minutes — outcome: approved; Board member Middleton abstained. - Temporary special-event beer permit, WWRD Concession (Vanessa Henry) — outcome: approved; roll call: Cunningham yes, Maynor/Maynard yes, Middleton yes, Storey yes, Cowan yes. - Retail beer permit application/transfer, Sunny's Neighborhood Market, 1706 Keeble Street — outcome: approved; roll call: Cunningham yes, Maynor/Maynard yes, Middleton yes, Storey yes, Cowan yes. - Election of vice chair (Robert Maynard) — outcome: approved; roll call: Cunningham yes, Maynor/Maynard yes, Middleton yes, Storey yes, Cowan yes.

The meeting record indicates permit approvals are tied to Camp Jordan arena events and to a long-standing neighborhood market; the board did not set conditions in the meeting record beyond standard permit processing and did not reference any statutes or ordinances on the record.