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Cedar County adopts courthouse grounds use policy, sets 25-person permit threshold
Summary
The Cedar County Board of Supervisors on April 7 adopted a Courthouse Grounds Use Policy that requires permits for organized events over 25 people and generally requires $1,000,000 liability insurance naming Cedar County as additional insured; Chairperson Jon Bell recorded the lone dissent.
The Cedar County Board of Supervisors adopted a Courthouse Grounds Use Policy on April 7 that requires permits for organized courthouse-lawn events that involve exclusive space use, structures, amplified sound, commercial activity or large gatherings and generally requires proof of $1,000,000 general liability insurance naming Cedar County as an additional insured.
Deputy Auditor Driscoll presented the draft permit and application, which includes an applicant checkbox to request a waiver of the insurance requirement for low-risk events. Supervisor Gaul moved to set the threshold for requiring a permit at gatherings of 25 people or more; the board voted to approve the resolution establishing the policy, with the minutes recording Chairperson Jon Bell as voting no.
The text adopted by the board states, "A permit shall be required for organized activities or events on the courthouse lawn that involve factors including, but not limited to: exclusive use of space, large gatherings, structures or equipment, amplified sound, commercial activity, or other impacts to public access or safety." The resolution also says the county "may waive the insurance requirement for permitted activities determined to be low-risk, as defined in the policy." The resolution takes effect immediately upon adoption, according to the minutes.
The policy formalizes how the county will balance casual public use of the courthouse grounds with the oversight of organized events; it gives county staff authority to approve or deny permit applications and to interpret the policy's risk categories. The minutes note that further discussions will be held after public hearings about related application details such as the insurance-waiver check box.
The board did not set additional implementing rules at the meeting and directed staff to continue refining permit application materials. The policy text adopted by the board also requires that applicants provide proof of general liability insurance in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 naming Cedar County as an additional insured unless the county grants a waiver for low-risk activities.
The Board is scheduled to meet next on April 14, 2026.
