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Chamber and CNCC defend event after leftover alcohol found; council holds hearing, asks questions
Summary
At a public hearing the Chamber acknowledged an oversight after event cleanup left a partially open can and a cooler with about 20 unopened beers; CNCC and a Park Ranger Academy director described concerns about student involvement. Council asked for more verification and said no action would be taken tonight.
A public hearing at the Rangely Town Council on March 11 focused solely on the effects to the liquor license after attendees found alcohol left at a recent special event.
Emma Varas, representing the event organizers, said the room where alcohol was stored was locked and no unauthorized persons accessed it. She described an “unintentional oversight” that left “a half-open can” and “a tote containing approximately 20 unopened beer cans” on the premises and said the team had implemented a stricter post‑event sweep, additional staff training and a designated “liquor czar” to oversee compliance at future events. “We sincerely regret this mistake,” Varas said.
College representatives told the council they had concerns about student access and supervision. Charles Hike, director of the Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy, said academy students have no peace‑officer authority and that using them for security or service could expose them to discipline or criminal charges. “I don’t want them to be caught up in a controversy,” Hike said, explaining the academy may decline future volunteer requests to protect students.
Angie Miller, executive director of human resources for CNCC, said she did not personally see the alcohol and identified Jennifer Barker as the staffer who observed the items. Facilities Director Nick Lefever said staff found one half‑empty can on a table and a cooler with roughly 20 cans when they inspected the room after the event and that the room is not always fully secured.
Council members pressed organizers on ID procedures. Organizers and an experienced licensee in the audience clarified that wristbands and carding systems reduce risk and that 18‑year‑olds may serve alcohol under supervision in Colorado but that every event should ensure proper IDing. Varas told the council the group will require wristbands and “make sure nothing is left behind” at future events.
The council cautioned that the hearing was limited to liquor‑license issues and said it would not make a final determination at the meeting. Council members asked staff to follow up as needed and noted they might seek additional input from the police chief before any enforcement action.
