The August meeting of the Dade County Commission will take place at 6:00 PM on Thursday, August 5th. Public is encouraged to attend the meeting, which will be held at the Dade County Commissioners Building.
On the docket will be the decisive proposal for and amendment to Ordinance No. 11-05-09, proposed during the July meeting, that would extend the “Parade and Special Event” ordinance to include “any organized activity having as its purpose entertainment, recreation, fund raising, and/or education, which takes place on a public street, sidewalk, or right-of-way, or occurs on private property and impacts government services on public rights of way or which may impact the health, safety or welfare of the public generally because of the nature of the assembly.”
The Alcohol and Beverage Control Board officially approached the Dade County Commissioner’s Office during the June Commission Meeting with their approval to amend the ordinance concerning local alcoholic beverage sales. The amendment would allow special catered events such as weddings and festivals could acquire permits for the sale of bottled or canned beverages.
The matter was originally brought to the ABC Board’s attention by the ‘Valley Vibes’ Music & Arts Festival, which will be held this year Dade County, where the festival originated. This incarnation of the event is scheduled for September 3-5, 2021 at the beautiful Bella Sera in Wildwood. “What began as a small, grassroots event has quickly become the largest locals-only music and arts festival ever assembled in the Chattanooga region. This year’s event will feature 50 live performances on three stages, dozens of art vendors, food trucks, professional wrestling, and other interactive entertainment. The lineup features homegrown acts such as Strung Like A Horse, Call Me Spinster, Swayyvo, Behold the Brave, and Milele Roots. Tickets start at $30 and peak at $120.”
Nathaniel McDaniel and Adam Gann, founders and stalwarts of Valley Vibes presented the benefits of having this festival in Dade County (Sept 3-5th, 525 Doyle Lane), while seeking to address the issue that county ordinance currently disallows the sell of alcohol at events such as these. Messrs. McDaniel and Gann expressed the concern that festivals with the antiquated ‘B.Y.O.B’-style alcohol systems cause the event staff (professional security officers, as well as a trained suite of bartenders) to be unable to “monitor the consumption” of the crowd at the venue.
Voting on both amendments will take place at the August meeting of the commission; August 5th at 5:00 PM.
by Orey Yates
