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Board approves road closure for Burnham Brewery’s April special event after police sign-off
Summary
The board approved a street closure request from Burnham Brewery for April 18, 2026 (12 p.m.–10 p.m.) after the presenter confirmed insurance and police expressed no objections; some residents raised concerns about alcohol in public streets and repeated event approvals.
Burnham Brewery requested a closure of F Street from U.S. 12 to the south end of its parking lot for a special event on April 18, 2026, from noon to 10 p.m. Steven Murray, the brewery representative, said the event would include music, arts and beer releases and that insurance had been submitted. He said it would be the brewery’s tenth annual iteration at that location.
Captain Andrew Jesse of the Michigan City Police Department said he "saw no issues" with the proposed closure and noted a safety‑minded amendment to the closure line near Highway 12. Residents and nearby business owners provided mixed public comment: some supported the event and recommended a conditional report on neighborhood impacts; others raised concerns about alcohol consumption in the street and whether the board had authority over certain fees. Tommy Kolovic urged denial based on an ordinance he cited restricting alcohol on city streets and asked the board to take separate votes for closure and fee waivers.
Board members stated the board’s role is to approve closures but that fee authority for waivers rests with city council. The board voted to approve the closure, and staff will proceed with standard event coordination and any required traffic controls.
