Event organizer seeks tweaks to Main Street Monroe New Year's Eve permit; committee advances application

The Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to advance a recommendation to the Common Council for a special-events permit for Main Street Monroe’s New Year’s Eve cheese drop after hearing minor changes from the event organizer.

The committee, convened and chaired for this meeting, heard from a police department representative who described the application as "essentially...the same as last year," and from the applicant, Jordan, who said the event will include a temporary Class B license and a beer garden. Jordan requested that the beer garden run "from 3 to 06:30" (paraphrased in committee discussion as 3:00 to 6:30 p.m.) and that the inner east side of the square be closed beginning at 12:30 p.m. and remain closed until 9:00 p.m. to allow vendors to use a tent and to facilitate teardown later that evening. Jordan also said turnout last year exceeded initial expectations, noting an early estimate of 50 attendees versus a later expectation near 300.

Committee members had no substantive objections. A committee member moved to advance the permit application and the chair seconded. In a roll-call vote, each alder present voted in the affirmative and the chair announced the motion passed, advancing the item for consideration by the full Common Council.

The committee did not adopt any additional conditions beyond the applicant’s requested modifications during the discussion. The meeting concluded after a brief member-business item and a voice vote to adjourn.