Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Alcohol Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Buckner restaurateur argues cornhole nights boost business; council to ask attorney for letter on outdoor alcohol designation
Summary
A restaurant operator told the council the cornhole events draw 30–50 people and requested permission to place two tables just off the sidewalk for limited drinks; councilors agreed to ask the city attorney to draft a letter confirming whether local ordinances allow a designated outdoor service area.
A local restaurateur who organizes weekly cornhole nights told the Buckner council during public comment that the events draw 30 to 50 people and have brought steady patronage to nearby businesses, and he asked the board to let patrons use two small tables under his building apron for drinks.
The speaker said he had checked with a state agent, identified as Special Agent Cassidy, who told him the outdoor area could be treated as a designated on‑premises area and would not necessarily require fencing, but that the license would need local support. ‘‘It’s bringing in 30 to 50 people minimum…Nobody is making a penny off a cornhole… it is $10 entry fee,’’ the operator said, describing the event as community‑based rather than a commercial alcohol operation.
Council members discussed overlapping rules: a referenced state statute requires a designated area for outdoor service in some cases; liquor control enforcement and whether fencing is required were raised. Council members noted existing practices in nearby towns (Oak Grove, Green Valley, Blue Springs) and said they would ask the city attorney to draft a letter for the business confirming whether the proposed two‑table setup, under the building overhang and not on the public sidewalk, complies with local ordinances. The council voted to request that letter and expect it at the next meeting.
Separately, the board also reviewed city hall rental policies, including whether councilors or employees should receive free use, whether rental fees should fully cover cleaning and wear, and whether the city should avoid undercutting private rental businesses. Councilors agreed to table major fee changes and to consult counsel before final action.
Next steps: the city attorney will prepare a letter clarifying whether local ordinance language allows a designated area on private premises adjacent to the public right‑of‑way; the council will also continue review of the city hall rental fee structure.
