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Proposed beer, wine ordinance stirs debate in Marble HillThursday, August 28, 2008
MARBLE HILL, Mo. — An ordinance allowing Marble Hill to sell beer and wine at the Harvest Festival became a hot-button issue with city officials and the public last week during two special hearings. According to Donnia Mayfield, the Bollinger County Chamber of Commerce president, the proposed ordinance would allow the festival beer and wine tasting provided by Thousand Oaks Winery in Patton, Mo., and at future special city events. The provision also included several safety measures, including a roped-off section for drinking separated from the festival. Police were to be monitoring the area, as well. But because a majority of the city council was not present to vote during Aug. 18's special meeting, the issue did not come to a head until a special session called by Mayor Russell Masterson for Friday. During what has been described as a heated debate, the ordinance failed to pass with only Ward 1 Alderman Clint Lacy voting yes. "I think most of the city council members were having trouble with the word alcohol in the ordinance," Masterson said. "At first we looked strictly at revenue and tax base, but we hadn't looked at the people who wouldn't have anything to do with it." However, community members had no trouble making their opinions about alcohol known to the council Friday evening. "I know you need revenue. I know you need money coming in," said Fred Ritter, pastor of Marble Hill First Baptist Church. "But if you have to do it this way, with a beer cart and a wine setup at the festival with families, then this town is in trouble. We have places for people to drink already. Let anyone who wants to drink go to those places." Lacy said he believed something "funny" had taken place because, as far as he understood, every one of the city council members supported the measure until Friday's vote. "Alderman [Jim] Sear, who originally made the motion to take a vote on it, withdrew his support stating he now had constituents that did not want this to pass," Lacy said. "I partake of alcohol here and there, and I know others on the council do as well. I know I would be a hypocrite for voting no, and it would've helped the revenue of our town especially during the festival." Masterson disagreed and said the ordinance needed to be researched more and brought to the council earlier. "The ordinance should have come to us two or three months ago so we could have researched it and see what we wanted to do," Masterson said. "With more time we could've educated the public and look at what public opinion would be, which turned out to be pretty strongly against it. All I heard was 'Don't do this because of our children.'" Mayfield, who has been planning the festival, insists she was informed four or five weeks ago by city administrative assistant Gary Shrum that a temporary license for beer and wine tasting had been approved. "After Gary told us that it was simply a matter of getting the proper permits, and we went ahead and did all of that — went through all the paperwork, spent all the time and made all the plans," Mayfield said. "Now I find out all along nothing was settled. All of that work we did and now the chamber has been made out to look like a laughing stock. To be honest, right now I am not proud to be the chamber president." Although Sears stated the ordinance should be revisited at a later date and that he would support trying "one wine tasting," Masterson has said it is unlikely the issue will be reconsidered even if beer was excluded. "We weren't trying to disrespect the community at all," Mayfield said. "We respect everyone in our community, and we just wanted to give them a great festival." Related Links
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101
You know Mr or Mrs Spy you sound like the kind of person who runs your mouth about a person and do not have the b*lls enough to confront them about it. That makes you no better than as you say "the leaders of this town" and that my friend is why Marble Hill does not move forward because of folks like you.
Hitman (I am the MHBC_Spy killer), Sounds like a threat? Should I turn this in too the law?
You might want to learn a few facts before you tear into someone that know facts. Spy killer or not!
I will continue to expose those in leadership who refuse to move this city forward.
You have a big month MHBC_Spy. You run it when you should just shut the f*ck up. Forbid you to have any vision or outlook for future leaders of our town, when you put down people for something they believe in and that goes for anyone else that has something negative to say about to no beer policy. I am the MHBC_Spy killer.
When the well intentioned members of the Bollinger County Chamber of Commerce approached us about offering wine tasting at the Harvest Festival, we had no idea this topic would result in such spirited debate. As a new business, we welcomed the opportunity to meet and support our local community, but asked that the city council officially sanction the event. Since this didn’t occur, continued debate only serves to further divide our community. Thousand Oaks Winery will not participate in the Harvest Festival, even if the ordinance passes at a later date.
We wish to thank the members of the Bollinger County Chamber of Commerce, our elected leaders, and community members for publicly considering this issue. We now ask that our community direct its energy toward the upcoming election which will influence the greater issues of the war, our economy, and who will lead our great nation.
Robert Eachus
Manager
Thousand Oaks Winery LLC
I am the mayor of Marble Hill,Mo.My name if you are interested is Russell Masterson,my name if you are not interested is still Russell Masterson.
I have hesitated for several days after recieving an email from one of our citizens about this blog.I am not a blogger and therefor did not understand how or if I should respond to what I have read here.I have decided to try to respond as best I can to the reasons and results of the ordinance concerning the rejection of the ordinance allowing beer and wine to be sold in our parks during fall festival.
First of all the ordinance was brought befor the city council in July 2008,there was much discussion and the members of the council(along with me,the mayor)thought that due to our shrinking tax base that maybe it would increase the influx of people to our fall festival and the car show that is part of the fall season.We as city government have an obligation to improve city streets,to improve city water and sewer,to improve storm water runoff,to improve sidewalks and city parks.How do we do that?By taxes!The city cannot raise your taxes,it is only done by ballot by the voters of the city of Marble Hill.If you ever hear or read that we are raising your taxes DON'T BELIEVE IT.We can't without your approval.As for the tax we just approved it is the property tax evaluation set by the state of Missouri of which we have no voice.Had we not approved and accepted it the city could not and would not have not collected one red cent in property taxes.(How many streets could we have resurfaced with nothing).You see the city council has one function,to spend your tax dollars and to spend it wisely.This takes me back to the beer and wine ordinance.We looked at it as strictly a revenue making situation,we obviously should have looked at things a little differently but again please understand at the time we had tax dollars and improvement to our city in mind.As time went on and the word began to spread through out the community we all began to realize that it was in the best interest of the city not to pass this ordinance.As mayor of the city I got most of the complaints and comments opposing the ordinance.As the comments and disapproval came to me I thought I should inform the aldermen of the dissatifaction of our citizens.I have never and will never tell one of our aldermen how to vote.I would have to be a fool to do that.(I have been called many things but never a fool)I did talk to Mr.Lacy but never said the things the way he said I did.I can't recall the exact words but I probably did tell him to use his head and some common judgement.(obviously he didn't)You see I think our elected officials should vote the wishes of the people they serve and not their own thoughts and wishes.
As Mayor it is my job to listen to our citizens and then to relay those messages to our aldermen and to also be an advisor to them.To have their confidence to at least listen to me and give me the benefit of a doubt.If at anytime I do not have their confidence and they do not trust my judgement it only takes two words to overcome their concerns and those two words are (I resign)You see I nor the other four are paid for their service to the city.I do this because I want Marble Hill,Mo. to be great and to be someday a great thriving metroplis.
I have never answered one of these and will never comment further.Just wanted to set the record straight.Hope I have.
Russell Masterson
Mayor Marble Hill,Mo.
Well since the rest of Bollinger County has opinionated on here, I may as well too- but unlike many of you I'm gonna get to the point. As you all know, we all have a new winery "Thousand Oaks" between Patton & Marble Hill. I believe that if we can section off a place for alcohol sales away from the 'family functions'- I don't see where there should be a problem. REVENUE people! Support your community & it's businesses- none the less letting it make some well needed money. I'm not saying that you have to support it by getting wasted or even buying on beer or having a taste of wine. You can support it by simply letting it be. Nonetheless, I'm sure I need not remind you of a little thing called "Leopold Picnic". Alcohol, minimal problems, money earned... & still goes on every year.
Hello Thunder Rolls.....you said....http://www.semissourian.com/... that I was a Liar. I think you are a coward.....hiding behind a cloak of secret screenname. I put my money where my mouth is.....Hope you enjoyed the pool this year, the fireworks display....I spent $50,000 dollars on them. What did you do....how about the 150,000 I spent to save First street? Be glad to meet you for a debate anywhere you want...Maybe at Fred's chirch where I donated the sound system or the museum where I gave them all the land for parking so the events have plenty of parking.....so thunderrolls....you are a coward ..I am the REAL THUNDER Maker !
He, Mohawk! What do you put in your tomato juice?
To bad that alcohol won't be served, looks like the town folk are afraid an drunken orgy will break out right in the middle of town and there won't be enough condoms to go around. I say let the festival begin and 'FREE CONDOMS FOR EVRYONE" , why not have trojan sponser the wine and beer tasting next year...
thanks for not allowing beer and wine. If I drank all day I wouldnt be able to drive the hills and curves and stop signs coming back home. Thanks again.
Me an' Coby is a wonderin' what old Tom would think about ever body bein' in a snit about a little consumption here and there. He'd prolly sketch a scene or create a statue. One thing for sure, he'd put a different light on it. I miss the master of the Cat Ranch...
Babe,
I was raised in the Baptist faith and most did not drink alcohol; not saying some didn't, but most did not.
Mohawk,
Must of not made my point as clear as I should. I think my point was it is a matter of community values, those who agree with the City Council’s decision should support them and those who don’t should either make their case or vote them out of office. Like I said, it does not affect me, so my opinion is just that. The community I was raised in allowed beer sales at its events and they were very successful without any problems. Since I don’t like to be around people drinking, I choose not to go.
I did not make the Hooters comment, you won’t see me at Hooters either, maybe Cracker Barrel, but certainly Hooters, Show Me, Buffalo Wild Wings or anything similar; nothing wrong with them, just not my style.
BC
Baptists do drink alcohol...but not in front of each other.
Red Rhino,
Point well taken, but this is not a situation where any of us are trying to get anyone out of office cause the city authorities are doing a good job. I'm not trying to bash Mr. Lacy. I don't agree with him on this issue and that is it. It's not a matter of any other city business, period. If you want to drink beer go to the bar or home, if you want to taste wine go to the winery. It's not about the Babtist vs. Alderman Lacy. It's plane as the nose on your face, we don't want it at the festivals or in our parks. This is a family event and not an adults only event. My preferences are not to drink or have my children around it. AND NO YOU WON"T SEE ME AT HOOTERS!
Mohawk_1, i think you are just trying to keep things stirred up. Maybe adding a little "spirit" into the festival would draw a few more participants. Anyway, I think you are being too close-minded. See you at Hooters!
Don't know much about that area, but don't really see anything wrong with sales of alcohol if it is allowed at other events. I certainly see no problem with the wine tasting aspect. I personally don't like to be around people who are drinking so I stay away, but my personal likes, dislikes and personal beliefs should not interfere with others.
At this point it appears to be a community issue. If the majority of the community disagrees, put pressure on the City Council and if that fails, vote them out. If the community agrees, support the City Council and keep them in. All of us outsiders' "opinions" don't mean much.
Mohawk...
Your living in a dream world. It don't matter if the city gives the ok or not. There will be drinking there!
There always is. But like most baptist want to say no.
They will stand in front of there church and blow smoke, chew and spit on the church ground. They will have men form there church (F.B.), who are all to willing to tell dirty jokes, or make race remarks.
But for those that drink. They will do what they always have done and bring it in with them one way or another.
Mobushwacker
Keep up the good work Clint
D-block
Mohawk:
Have you ever been to a wine tasting? Obviously not, because if you had, and have seen the size of the cups that they give you to taste the wine , you would realize that you would have to stay there all day long to get intoxicated.
Chester is that you???
I am not saying Mr. Lacy has not done some good for the city of Marble Hill, because I think he has got the city at heart for the most part. I'm sorry I don't agree with him on this issue and I'm sorry he is mad because he didn't get his way. As far as this issue goes, I will not change my stand. The festival has went on for however many years without the alcohol being sold, with great success, and will do so in the future. I support the mayor and alderman of our city and have great regard for the city police and their capability to do their jobs. They have better things to do than sit around and watch a beer garden. As for the wine sipping, don't kid yourself, there would be no sipping take place. To allow alcohol to be sold would turn a family event into a "Drunkfest". The Woodland booster club sponsers a dance for the students and allowing alcohol would make it a danger to the children with intoxicated people to roam around during such an event. To say this would be okay, would be the same as saying it is okay to sell alcohol at a school event to the adults.
Mobushwacker,
It seems Marble Hill has at least one individual
who is optomistic and looking out for the welfare of his town!Keep up the good work and I sure hope the
fine folks out there in Marble hill get behind you so that the infrastructure needed in your area is realized!Small towns need more people like you who see the potential for growth and who make them a better place to live.You certainly would have my vote!
BUWHAHAHAHAHA The Neocons win again !!!!!!!!!
They're all baptists out there anyway, and we all know that baptists hide their drinking anyway.
Kind of like a hypocrite..........
Greywolf:
I knew my decision would not be popular with City Hall, but then again, my decision to inform the public about their plan to double the water and sewage fees was not either and I certainly don't hear anyone complaining about that.
According to the study done by Smith and Company, Marble Hill has some of the lowest rates in Southeast Missouri for water and sewer, yet I have been polling friends in surrounding communities, and most seem to be the same and some even cheaper than Marble Hill.
I don't believe I can stop them from raising rates, but by informing the public and fighting them I do believe I can bring them to the bargaining table but back to the wine tasting...
As I stated before, it was going to be held in a separate park away from the Fall Festival activities, there were going to be police there as well, and as far as a beer wagon goes, again I fail to see why the Optimist Club was "up in arms", when they allow people to drink beer by the horse trailers during horse shows on the very same ground that the fall festival is being held on.
We have a winery in Patton, one in Marquand and one in Fredricktown, as stated before, I felt this was a very good way to get people to visit Marble Hill, and I've never heard of any drunken brawls or binge drinking at wine tasting events.
Whoever said that I was in "cahoots" with Mrs. Mayfield is dead wrong.
When a business asks her if she can organize a wine tasting, she is obligated to do so, she brought the idea to City Hall.
As an alderman, if I feel that this would be of benefit to the community and help generate business in our area, I feel obligated to do so.
I am not living in the past. Unfortunately the present keeps slapping me right in the face.
I spent several hours driving around my Ward listing streets that need repair, only to have the assistant city administrator, (who is not elected) over rule most of my recommendations, and a council that refused to side against him.
I have been told repeatedly that my quest replace out dated water and sewer lines (through the pursuit of grants) is not going to happen.
I've got a neighbor who has waited two months now to get his culvert cleaned out.
The basic needs of the city are not being met.
That is why I voted against the city property tax rate set by the state.
Why assess property and collect taxes on it if the money is not going to be spent wisely, and when the citizens are not seeing the benefits of their tax dollars.
Still there has been some good things come since I took my oath of office.
One, City Hall is starting to fill up during our monthly meetings. This is a good thing, (whether the people agree or disagree with me), public participation is the first step to reforming government.
We have also help some citizens out with a sewage line that had been put off for a year.
Love me or hate me, I will always stand for what I feel is right, and I can not be swayed otherwise, by anyone.
Marble Hill, began to die in 1985, when the city of Lutesville and Marble Hill became one. You don't ask questions and for God'sake don't cross some of them.
The truth is that from Shirley Cooper to the present. They don't want anything in this town. They wanted a retirment town and that's what they got. Cooper had a chance to bring in bussines and meet scertly with them and told them no way, no how!
As far as Ritter. I wouldn't take anything he said to heart. Mr. Ritter had his chance to make a big change and all we got was nothing! Besides, Mr. Ritter has enough problems of his own. He sure don't need to be up raising a moral flag and dancing around it.
Mr. McCain is one of his members! Couldn't make a decision on his own if he tried! And with "Pastor" there for God's sake don't agree with a beer wagon.
Another thing I found interesting was Mr. Hayes response! Somehow I feel that if the vote with the other way he would have agreed with that side. After all, he is running for an office!
Seems that Mr. Surm again has spoke and told someone to do something before he knew the outcome. But this isn't the first time for him jumping the gun.
Then I'd like to ask City Councel this question? Why in the H*** are we paying 39.000.00 a year for this job? This job could and should be, out sourced. Then when the city had a need for one, they could pay one!
$39.000.00 for someone to tell folk that the green light was given only to slam the Red light before they got started. 39.000.00, that could be used to take care of the parks, they have now! Which they have not done... 39.000.00, that could go to repave the streets. 39.000.00 for a man to sit and only write for grants he thought was a sure thing.... I'm might be a dummy , but I'm not a plum dummy!
The sad truth is that, old downtown lutesville, will never be what it was! But, with the right leaders. The right people with a vision. Marble Hill could be something better then it ever was! Sad truth it won't happen in my life time.
A festival can be great without the alcohol.
Prohibitionist have always bothered me!
When done correctly a beer garden is well worth
the revenue.Apparently there are many folks out there
in the hills who do not drink responsibly!I see NO good reason why the festival should not have a wine taisting booth as well as beer.The wine industry in Missouri has been growing and certainly has added new revenue for the State as well as jobs.It sounds like there are too many folks in Marble Hill who think they are do-gooders!Those folks should not attend if they are bothered by consumption of beer and wine!
Beer and wine at a fall festival! How dare they even think that would be acceptable.
It appears the Marble Hill city council is made up of crazies, puppets, and Clint Lacy.
Your town is already in trouble, Fred. It allows you to impose your morality on every citizen, whether they agree with you or not. Hopefully your sane citizenry will oust you left wing nut jobs.
I am from that town and my thoughts on that beer and wine cart is; why not bring it in? Just because it is there doesn't mean that it is causing anymore harm then if people where to go to the pub up town and come down to the festival totally trashed! If people want to drink then they are going to do it, regardless if they can do it there or if they go somewhere else to do it. For the people that have never been to Marble Hill, that town is full of people that judge you by your last name and claim to be a good little town, what they do not know are the ones that they claim to be up class citizens are the ones that are promoting all the ignorant crap in that town, refering to, no jobs, no activities for the kids, the town is run down and it is full of teenagers with nothing to do... But back to my thoughts... The elderly council needs to back off and let the town grow if possible in anyway, but we all know that they are not going to do that, so i vote for a new city council..
later
It sure sounds like Ms. Mayfield and Mr. Lacy are in cahoots. If Mayfield is not so proud to be the President of the Chamber of Commerce, then she needs to move along and let someone else fill the spot and work on getting some business in Marble Hill and not worry so much about getting them drunk. There is more problems than the police can deal with at the SEMO Fair and they have a department of 70 some officers, Marble Hill has a force of 4 or 5 and have other more pressing issues to deal with than babysitting a bunch of intoxicated people at the festival. Thanks to the three alderman who voted against the ban and for listening to the people who supported you and shame on Mayfiels and Lacy.
Wow! After reading Alderman Lacy's blog (see the link on the previous post) it makes me wonder who actually wrote this news story! Or did the good Alderman write his blog after the Missourian article? I'm not from Marble Hill, but I'm going to give my opinion anyway. One of the reasons I don't go to other festivals in the area is because of the "beer gardens" that are at every one of them. A roped off area doesn't keep intoxicated people apart from everyone else unless they are actively drinking. A wine tasting might not be so bad, but the beer stand, IMHO, is not a good idea.
As a Alderman you need to listen to the people not yourself on matters like this. Had this passed there were a lot of organizations and business that was ready to pull out of the Fall Fest. As Far as Fred Ritter and the past board, you need to drop the idea that they ran businesses out of town. The bar in question was being run by drug dealers. If you want to point fingers at who is keeping growth out of Marble Hill take a good look at L. Ivey and his team who has bought up every building in the town almost, then lets them set there empty. He lied and screwed the city out of the Air Port deal and forced the Sonic Drive Inn away. And who is on his team? Mr. Lacy it is good to see young people interested in city government but you need to get out of the past and open your eyes to what really happens.
There were a few things left out of this story, for what reason I do not know, but a few hours prior to the meeting, I called the mayor to make sure that the meeting was at 5:00 pm. During the course of our conversation the mayor told me that he was speaking to me "as a friend" stating that he wanted to show a sense of unity in the council and urged me to vote against the measure.
I told him I could not do that and he said, "I am speaking to you as a friend have some common sense".
To which I replied, "what is that supposed to mean?"
He replied by saying, "Damnit boy, it means have some common sense".
Pastor Ritter served on the board from 2006-2008 and did nothing to attract new businesses, in fact he and the council at the time tried to run businesses out of town by attempting not to renew their liquor licenses.
The optmist club was outraged, yet allow drinking at their horse shows.
Yes, something was very "funny" about this whole situation.
The majority of the people attending this event conducted themselves admirably,there were others howerver; that did not.
For more details visit the link below:
http://aldermanlacy.wordpress.com/...