(Cushing) – Cushing City Commissioners voted unanimously on Thursday to deny a pernmit request from the Cushing Chamber 0of Commerce for a wine and cheese tasting event during the annual Festival In The Park, slated for October 10th.
The vote came during a special meeting of the Commission at City Hall.
Cushing Chamber Executive Director Bobby Bryant and event committee chair Dr. Robert Mullins went before the Commission Thursday to explain the rationale for the request.
Bryant noted the growth of wineries and the grape growing agricultural sector, pointing out that Oklahoma now has more than 300 wineries, and that there are eight wineries in the Cimarron Valley. Bryant told Commissioners that festival organizers believed holding such an event would raise the level of participation by artists and vendors.
Bryant also explained that such events are becoming common in other Oklahoma communities, and that the ABLE Commission monitors wineries for compliance with state laws on such events.
Bryant said the event would be held in an enclosed tent with only one entry and exit, and that wristbands would be needed for entry into the tent.
Others in attendance at the meeting were not swayed. Local Pastor Kevin Clouse spoke against including such an event, saying he had seen firsthand the damage alcoholism had caused and that such events were “triggers” for alcoholics.
Others were against inclusion of such an event because of the presence of children at the event, and because it is held in a public park.
After members of the public finished speaking, Commissioners took their turn. Commissioner Jim Hogrefe asked for a show of hands of people in the audience of those in favor and those against, and it appeared that those against the event were clearly in the majority of the twenty or so people that turned out for the meeting.
Commissioner Tommy Johnson pointed out that a biker rally earlier in the year were told they could not have alcoholic beverages on public property, and Johnson said “What’s good for one is good for the other.”
Commissioner Evert Rossiter said he had given much prayer and thought to the request and had taken many phone calls on the matter and believed denying the request from the Chamber was the right thing to do.
Vice-Chairman Joe Manning, who conducted the meeting in the absence of Chairman John Henckel, thanked Bryant and the Chamber Committee for their work on the Festival in the Park, and for making the presentation.
A roll call vote was taken on a motion made by Commissioner Hogrefe, and all four Commissioners voted against granting the permit request.
