Lenoir City council OKs road closure for booster-club 'Battle of the Bands' block party

Lenoir City Council on Monday approved a request to close Broadway and Depot from Houston Street to B Street for a booster-club–organized 'Battle of the Bands' block party proposed for the 27th of the month (the transcript references April 20 and Aug. 27; the month is not clearly stated).

Allen J., identified in the meeting as president of the football booster club, told the council the event will feature a contest between two high-school bands that would march from opposite sides and meet at a small park, a reunion band and T-shirt sales. "We're proposing to have this festival block on Thursday 27th," Allen said, adding that Tennessee Brew Works was being asked to sponsor beverages and that merchants would sell shirts; he said some proceeds were intended for the Good Samaritan organization.

Council members asked logistical questions about T-shirt availability, merchant participation and planning. A meeting organizer said the group has been meeting with county officials, downtown merchants, the chamber and law enforcement to coordinate the multi-day event and tailgate activities.

The council moved and seconded the item and approved the road-closure request by roll-call vote. The motion authorizes closing the specified blocks during the event hours listed in the application (the transcript records the request as 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.).

Votes at a glance from Monday's meeting: the council approved previous meeting minutes, approved the meeting agenda, approved the booster-club road-closure request and later approved a separate motion to solicit bids for street paving; the council also voted to pay bills once properly approved and funds are available.

The council did not specify the month for the proposed '27th' in the public discussion recorded in the transcript; the application language and staff files should be consulted for an exact date and event permit conditions.