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Laura Hatmaker asks county to allow temporary barriers for Coffee County Pride craft fair
Summary
Laura Hatmaker of Coffee County Pride and local PFLAG asked the Capitol Outlay Committee for permission to use lightweight, non‑ground-anchored barrier fencing at the county Administrative Plaza for a nonprofit craft fair on Oct. 17 to separate vendors and children’s activities from parking, citing safety concerns and a small admission fee to deter hostile attendees.
Laura Hatmaker, who identified herself as representing Coffee County Pride and the local PFLAG chapter, asked the Capitol Outlay Committee on July 2 for permission to place temporary, non‑ground-anchored barrier fencing at the County Administrative Plaza for a craft fair the group plans for Oct. 17.
Hatmaker told the committee the group expects to charge a small admission fee of $3–$5 to help cover security and cleanup costs and to discourage people who have targeted the group at past events. "We get a lot of hate in the community," she said, and added organizers have received threats; the group would provide volunteers to staff the event and remove the lightweight barriers the same day.
Committee members expressed concern that the Administrative Plaza is public property and that the county cannot lawfully restrict who may access it. A member asked the county attorney to review liability and insurance issues and whether any admission‑control measures or fencing would be permissible on publicly owned property. The committee also suggested the Coffee County Fair Board, a private 501(c)(3) venue, as an alternative location that could gate attendees.
Hatmaker said organizers already asked about food‑truck limits and tent counts when reserving the plaza and that they were told two food trucks were allowed; she said they would obtain any required liability insurance and provide contact information for an official inquiry. The committee asked the organizer to stay in touch with staff and indicated it would pursue a formal opinion from the county attorney before granting any exception.
The committee did not take a formal vote on permitting fencing or charging admission at the meeting; members instead referred the matter for legal review and to staff for follow up.
