by Michael Howell
On June 5th, the Ravalli County Commissioners adopted on first reading a new ordinance permitting the purchasing and dispensing of alcoholic beverages at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds. If approved on second reading, scheduled for a hearing on June 25, the new ordinance will repeal and replace the current ordinance that restricts the sale, purchase and possession of alcoholic beverages to the Event Center. However, the new ordinance does contain a provision that explicitly prohibits alcohol from being purchased, dispensed or possessed anywhere on Fairgrounds property 14 days prior to, during, or 14 days following each annual Ravalli County Fair.
The new ordinance also contains several other provisions. Alcohol may only be sold by a Montana state licensed caterer or a person or organization that possesses a state permit and a copy of their liability insurance must be submitted to the Ravalli County Fairgrounds Office prior to the event where alcohol is sold. The County currently has a policy requiring at least $1 million in liability insurance. Patrons attempting to purchase, possess or consume alcoholic beverages at a concession stand shall be subject to showing a valid photo I.D. and no patron shall be allowed to bring alcoholic beverages onto the grounds or facilities without going through the Fairgrounds alcohol permitting process. The ordinance also requires any person applying for the alcohol permit to make food available whenever alcoholic beverages are sold. Anyone found in violation of the ordinance can be fined up to $500 and/or jailed for up to 6 months.
Fairgrounds manager Melissa Saville said she was excited about the initial approval of the ordinance. She said, “One reason the Fairgrounds Office was moving forward with this was that a lot of people have been expressing a desire to use a lot more of the facilities than just the Event Center and we want to become a destination venue for them.” She said that offering events the chance to do things outside on the lawn would bring a lot more revenue in. She said that both the Sheriff’s Office and the Hamilton Police Department had been consulting and that it would mean no changes to them from their current responsibilities. She said nothing would change from the current requirements that apply to the Event Center including the need to get Fairgrounds permits as well as state and city permits for alcohol and insurance. “It’s just opening us up to be able to offer more,” said Saville.
She said it would attract more events to the Fairgrounds, both large and small. “Someone interested in holding an outdoor barbeque, a reunion, or an anniversary party could go through the process and we could host that for them.” She said they had just started on a new project with the Fair Foundation to build an open-air pergola out on the old teepee burner ring that would add to the appeal. Saville said that public input about the changes has been very positive and the Fairgrounds recently received the Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce economic development award for their efforts at hosting events that bring in more economic activity to the valley.