Agenda - 10-03-2017 - 8-a - Minutes

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2 1 we have been given a moving target in terms of how we're allowed to operate while serving 2 alcohol at an outdoor public space. Each reiteration has been more and more restrictive. 3 The reason I reached out in the first place was to appeal for help in the face of a 4 constricting set of policies, but what I've learned over the past week is that the problem is that 5 there isn't a policy at all. I've spoken to Economic Development, Parks and Rec, multiple of 6 you, the Sherriff's office, and leaders at each level of Town and County government, and at all 7 levels one thing seemed clear: Everyone I spoke to seemed supportive of the presence of my 8 company, and an open set of operating parameters in terms of serving alcohol in public. In 9 fact, it seemed that the reason that we were given an ever-restrictive set of rules was because 10 nobody had really thought about the best way to approach it, so the squeakiest wheel got the 11 grease, so to speak. 12 I am here today to ask you — and the County in general —to consider creating a 13 consistent policy for serving alcohol at public events so that companies like mine, operating in 14 Orange County, can have a clear set of guidelines within our home communities that we can 15 plan for, work with, and operate within every time. We all want to do things legally and safely, 16 and that is made all the easier when the rules are well-considered, well-documented, and the 17 same every time. 18 I understand that this is not an easy or quick undertaking. Alcohol is a tricky political 19 matter and requires input from public safety, community leaders, as well as members of the 20 alcohol industry. I've been involved in events serving beer in the community for over a decade 21 now and I would be happy to volunteer my time to help craft a good policy for County grounds 22 that are not covered by town jurisdiction, just as I have helped craft State law through the North 23 Carolina Craft Brewers Guild, including a large portion of the recent brunch bill. I will be 24 bringing the same request to the Town Council here in Hillsborough at their next meeting, and I 25 would urge leaders in other parts of Orange County to do the same. 26 The beer industry is flourishing here in North Carolina. It has a yearly economic impact 27 of over 1 billion dollars state-wide and creates over 10,000 jobs. Here in Orange County, we 28 have only 6 of the State's 230 breweries, but we support a large swath of local economy, from 29 restaurants, bars, and grocery stores that buy and resell our beer, to local agriculture that we 30 support with our restaurants and ingredients for our brews. Our employees live in the local 31 community and support Orange County business with their wages. 32 We are, by-in-large, community centers for our public—for your constituents— and the 33 fact that we're asked to participate in local public events shows that we are valued by our 34 community as an essential part of what a community gathering is. Giving us common sense 35 rules that allow us to operate at those events, while keeping an important eye on public safety 36 and eliminating underage consumption, keeps our communities thriving and happy while 37 supporting an important part of our local economy. 38 I look forward to helping to craft policy for these important considerations in any way I 39 can. 40 Thanks so much for your time. 41 Erik Myers, erikmysterybrewinq.com 42 919-697-8379 43 44 Tom O'Dwyer read the following comments: 45 Good Evening Commissioners, 46 I'm Tom O'Dwyer, a resident of Orange County, and I represent Doris Tippens in the 47 matter of a realty tax error that occurred from 2009-2016. Doris is my mother in law, and turns 48 89 next month. The error referenced in her letter and my accounting submitted to you tonight 49 happened while she was caring for her ailing husband Reverend Jim Tippens, until his death in