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Lamar council approves OctoberFest beer garden with added security
Summary
The Lamar City Council unanimously granted the Lamar Chamber of Commerce a special-event beer-garden permit for OctoberFest after staff and the applicant described added security measures, controlled entrances and exits, and TIP-certified personnel; one resident urged tighter alcohol regulation during public comment.
The Lamar City Council voted unanimously to approve a special-event beer garden and use of city property for OctoberFest after hearing a staff presentation and public comment.
Mayor K Crespin opened a public hearing on the application from the Lamar Chamber of Commerce. Applicant Baker Tanisha described the event plan and said organizers would increase security compared with past events: "we are looking to add one to two more security officials" in addition to the four used at Cinco de Mayo, assign security posts at the entrance and exit near the railroad tracks, and station roving personnel inside the fenced perimeter to limit unauthorized access and prevent alcohol from leaving the event area. The applicant said vendors would have a separate exit area to allow early departures without opening the main entrance flow.
Gayen Bernett, of 800 South 6th Street, spoke in opposition during public comment and cited public-health concerns about alcohol availability, noting national and state statistics on alcohol-related deaths and harms. Bernett urged council to consider restricting availability and concentration of alcohol outlets as a local preventive step.
Council members asked clarifying questions about event hours and staffing. The applicant said the beer garden hours would run roughly from mid-morning through the evening (applicant provided start and end times during the hearing) and that 12 TIP-certified staff copies were provided to the city. With those assurances and no unresolved regulatory objections from staff, councilmember Joe Gonzalez moved to approve the permit; the motion passed unanimously.
The council's approval covers the municipal permit and use of city property; state-level liquor licensing or event approvals remain the applicant's responsibility and will proceed through the state agency review process, as the council noted at the hearing. The council closed the public hearing and recorded the vote as unanimous; no conditions beyond the described staffing and perimeter controls were added.
