With a packed house, the Saratoga Town Council began the bi-monthly meeting Aug. 17 with bills and correspondence, but the organized event application found lower on the agenda is what commanded the attention of the masses.

Items from the public preceded the event application review, and numerous people stood to voice their opinion concerning the 11-page document.

Theresa Pacheco and Sally Patton, of Carbon County Project Prevention, endorsed the application stating that the tips for a safer event were critical to prevent underage drinking during an event. The tips included server-training, wristbands for 21 and older persons, and restricting alcohol to certain places, just to name a few.

“In this county we have tremendous problems with alcohol abuse, and we have overshot that particular statistic with our statistic about suicide and we are number one in the nation in this county for suicide,” Patton said. Facts not verified by the Saratoga Sun.

“These statistics come from the fact that we are anti-social here, we don’t have a lot of things that get us together and get us out in public that are fun.”

“Hopefully, we can have something that is fair and equitable for everyone planning an event, but not intimidate people who want to get together and have a good time,” Patton added.

Carol States stood to support the adoption of the event application.

“I think this application establishes standards and guidelines for organized events that are planned within town limits,” States said. “It requires event organizers to address such issues as sufficient parking, security plans, liquor liability insurance, obtaining permitting to continue past 10 p.m., adherence to appropriate sound levels and coordination with town departments.”

States said she feels the “document is reasonable and equitable and protects the rights of all Saratoga property owners”.

Sophie Morgan read a letter on behalf of Thor Senior, stating that people are here to “find out if we will be allowed to accept the gift of music”.

After finalizing the letter, Morgan asked the council to “help us find a way to allow this music, I think it is a wonderful, healthy, beautiful thing.”

D.J. Anderson piggybacked Morgan’s and Senior’s comments, stating that the stage at Cindy Bloomquist’s helps the “artistic ability of the Valley” flourish by providing a place for these events to take place.

Laura Morrow, of Laura Ms, told the council the reason she can hold the farmer’s markets is because “we do not have a lot of expense” involved.

“Please explain about the liquor permits concerning wine, which would cut out a lot of the Chamber Socials without the planning a month ahead of time,” Morrow said, “a lot of times these (socials) are planned a couple weeks or days ahead of time.”

“I feel that the insurance required in this application will cut out a lot of these small events, such as I am having.”

Morrow asked for the regulation to be in a “gentle manner” so all events can be produced.
Cindy Loose, of VIP Market  -ing, stood to tell the council she felt the policies of the application were “very restrictive”.

“When I look at some of the things (in the application) I wonder if we will still be able to have bike rodeos, swimming pool parties…I don’t know any parent that is going to apply and fill this out to have a pool party.”

Loose said she felt the town was asking too much of the volunteers helping to organize events.

“This application will take longer to fill out than the Fourth of July parade lasts (parades are included in the document),” Loose said, “and so I hope you will revisit some of the restrictiveness in this application before passing it.”

Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce director Stacy Crimmins said she appreciates the council’s work on the application, but finds the current permitting process sufficient and “not much of a burden” to complete.

“I do think the tips for organized events should be included anytime there is any type of an event,” Crimmins added.

The event application then came before the board in “Reports for Departments” and Mayor John Zeiger said he felt some of the council members “would like to take the time to jot down some more notes” and he then tabled the application.