Council approves waiver and temporary permit for Abdallah Shriners event at Johnson County Fairgrounds

The Gardner City Council on the evening session approved a waiver of the city’s 200‑foot distance limit and a temporary permit to allow the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages during the Abdallah Shriners rodeo and demo derby scheduled June 12–14 at the Johnson County Fairgrounds, located at 136 East Washington Street.

City Clerk Renee said the Shriners have obtained a temporary permit from the Kansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Division and requested the council’s distance‑waiver to allow mixed drinks on site. "They are gonna serve mixed drinks," Renee said, and staff recommended approval so the event could proceed with the planned beer garden and beverage service.

Council members asked about public‑safety arrangements and whether the Shriners group had previously served mixed drinks. One council member noted past events required additional deputies and said event organizers had been responsive: "That group has always been responsible in the past," a council member said. Police Chief (addressed by council as Chief) said the department had not yet been contacted by the Shriners but had a community policing officer prepared to coordinate off‑duty coverage if requested.

After the brief exchange the council moved, seconded and voted to approve the waiver and temporary permit. The clerk read the motion to authorize the waiver and temporary permit for the Johnson County Fairgrounds event; the mayor announced the motion passed.

The approval follows staff assurances that the Shriners secured state temporary permitting and that public‑safety planning — including off‑duty deputy or officer coverage — would be coordinated with the event organizers. The council provided no conditions in the motion; further operational details (security hours, staffing counts) were discussed as matters for the police department to coordinate with organizers.