The issue of serving alcohol in Boonville’s city parks drew split votes from the council Monday night as it considered two motions to grant a variance to a local company who sought permission to serve beer at its employee picnic. Mayor Dave Nicholas cast the deciding votes in two separate motions addressing the issue, with the last motion granting the request on a one-time trial basis.

Glen Martin Engineering presented a plan to hold its annual employee appreciation party on the Kemper Parks grounds during Boonville’s Heritage Days Festival.

Company representative Beau Aero said the firm chose this venue in order to “show off Boonville and its historic nature” and also improve the company’s local visibility. He said the company expects about 300 people to attend the private party which will be held on the park’s north parade grounds, near Third Street between the former Hitch House and the Kemper library building. The picnic would be held under a tent with a barricade around the perimeter. A company representative will be assigned to check the RSVP list at the entrance, as a crowd control measure.

Representative Chris Hombs said that because Heritage Days is considered a public event, he would be troubled by alcohol being served at a private event during the festival.

To read the rest of the story see BDN's May 6 print edition.