The Town of Thayne is working to finalize regulations regarding the use of alcoholic beverages in its new community center and on other town property. Ordinance 278 passed on second reading on Thursday, Feb. 21.

The ordinance allows for the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages on town property with an approved permit from the town.

“The town council has determined that it is in the best interest of the residents of the Town of Thayne to amend the town code regarding consumption of alcoholic beverages on town property,” Ordinance 278 states.

Under Ordinance 278 “no person shall have in their possession an open container containing any malt or alcoholic beverages while on town property or in any vehicle located on town property unless a permit has been issued specifically authorizing the possession of malt or alcohol beverages on town property.”
“The town reserves unto itself the right to issue permits for the sale, consumption or possession of malt or alcoholic beverages on town property on a case-by-case basis,” the ordinance states.
According to Ordinance 278, the “rules and regulations for the sale, consumption, or possession of malt or alcoholic beverages on town property” are as follows.

• An applicant desiring a permit for the sale, consumption or possession of malt or alcoholic beverages on any town property shall complete an application form and submit the form to the town clerk.

• The town clerk will then forward the application to the mayor for review to determine “whether such permit complies with the town’s rules and regulations.”

• Once issued, a permit can not be transferred to any third party unless specifically approved by the town.

• Permits will be issued for “a specific period of time not to exceed 24 hours and for a specific event or activity.”
The ordinance limits the number of permits allowed to any one person or organization in a year to “no more than 12.”

Permit applicants will also be required to “execute a waiver of liability and a hold harmless agreement in favor of the town.”

The applicant “may be required to hire off-duty law enforcement officers for security during the event.”

“Anyone obtaining a permit shall not allow attendees at the event to bring malt or alcoholic beverages onto the premises or to take malt or alcoholic beverages from the premises; provided, however, this shall not prevent closed-container items sold at an auction for the benefit of a nonprofit organization to be taken off-premises,” Ordinance 278 states. “It shall be the responsibility of the holder of the permit to comply with all Wyoming liquor laws and regulations and all other ordinances or state laws affecting the sale and consumption of malt and alcoholic beverages.”

Ordinance 278 must pass three readings before it can officially be adopted by the Town of Thayne. The ordinance will be up for its third reading at the March 21 meeting of the Thayne Town Council.

• Follow @svi