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Local vendor asks why temporary permit for Kent Smith Park market was revoked; commissioners seek process fix
Summary
Haley Johnson of Scotsman Holdings told the commission a temporary use permit for a tourist‑focused farmers market at Kent Smith Park was issued then revoked; county staff cited liability, parking and property‑owner issues and commissioners asked staff to develop a vendor agreement/process and explore private or alternative public sites.
Haley Johnson, manager of the Scotsman Center and representative of Scotsman Holdings, told the Morgan County Commission she and local vendors want to move a long‑running Mountain Green farmers market to Kent Smith Park to reach tourists and keep vendors viable. "We were actually issued the temporary use permit, but it sounds like that was against policy and we all kind of learned that on the back end," Johnson said, describing the permit’s revocation days after it was issued.
The county’s permitting and risk concerns fell to Garrett, a county staff member who said his office issued the temporary permit under the temporary‑use rules but revoked it after being told county property could not host the for‑profit event. Garrett said his primary concerns were premises liability and the county’s lack of a venue‑specific commercial permit process. He also cited parking and safety on the corridor by Kent Smith Park, noting the county had lowered speed limits after a fatal crash on that stretch.
Commissioners and staff discussed options to preserve the event’s tourist appeal while managing county risk. Planning staff said the county has used higher fees, insurance, and deposit requirements for commercial events at the fairgrounds and airport, and recommended adapting those protections for parks. Commissioners suggested asking property owners of nearby private lots about short‑term parking agreements, exploring Enterprise Park or street closures, and coordinating with the tourism department to promote any pilot event.
Johnson said the market carries vendor insurance (a $1 million commercial liability policy with a $500 add‑on for off‑site locations) and that she booked park fields believing availability was not clearly marked. County officials asked her to supply proof of insurance and said staff would work with the county attorney and risk manager to propose a permit procedure, develop a single vendor agreement that could be tweaked per location, and revisit whether sponsorship or a business grant route could help cover marketing.
No formal action was taken; commissioners directed staff to review the temporary use permit process, draft a vendor/venue agreement modeled on the fairgrounds approach, and return with options for possible pilot events or alternative private sites.
