COLUMBUS -- Conflicting testimony and circulation of a petition by Project Extra Mile to keep alcohol out of city parks has at least one Columbus Softball Association (CSA) supporter agitated.
On March 18, the Columbus park board voted 4-3, with two board member absent, against granting a “canned beer only” permit to CSA during CSA-sponsored events at the softball complex in Gerrard Park. CSA President Brian Brownlow said at that time he intended to bring the request before the board again in April.
In a follow-up interview, with the two members who were absent, Joy Meister said she was a solid yes to grant the permit, while Steve Kohl was not as firm in his position, but said he was leaning in favor of CSA.
After hearing the result of the vote and some of the testimony that had occurred during that meeting, Dave Zybach said he could no longer stand by regarding this issue.
Zybach, who not only served on the park board, but who also helped start the CSA in 1983, said he was frustrated with PEM and Wilma Arp’s opposition to a social event for adults that has been involved in a single instance of underage drinking.
“It was around the year 2000 and two minors were arrested for minor in possession,” he said. “I was the one who turned them in.”
He equated the consumption of alcohol at the CSA games to a bunch of co-workers grabbing two or three drinks after work.
“They (PEM) have a bad conception of what occurs. It’s not party time,” Zybach said. “Most of them bring a cooler. With 12 guys on a team, a case will be split between 12 guys.”
He also raised the flag on Arp’s testimony during the meeting regarding her statement that while she served on the board she never voted to grant the permit.
Upon investigation of the park board minutes during Arp’s, who was Wilma Weigert at the time, service from April 1988 to June 1999, she voted to approve a CSA beer permit request on six separate occasions, with her final yes vote occurring Feb. 13, 1996.
Arp said she did not recollect voting for any CSA beer permits and attributed her affirmative votes for the 1990-1996 CSA seasons to being new to the board.
“When you first come on a board you don’t understand all the issues. You vote the way everyone else votes,” she said. But as she gained more experience “you receive more education in the areas and the issues and probably make better decisions.”
It was not until Jan. 21, 1997, that she cast her first vote against the beer permit. Arp said she established a different position because of a number of tragic events that occurred in 1996 involving underage drinking.
“People think we are picking on the softball association. We have given them credit for years as nothing has happened,” she said, but “find me another community the size of Columbus or larger that allows unlimited amounts of canned beer in a park like that.”
Of note, CSA does not provide any alcohol but participants are allowed to bring in their own canned beer for consumption at the softball complex only.
Also, Arp said, adults “tell youth they don’t need alcohol to have a good time and then turn around and show them that you do have to have alcohol to have a good time. That is being a hypocrite. One of the things we can do as a community is to change community norms.”
Zybach said the hypocrisy lies amongst those who oppose the beer permit at CSA events, but who are not against alcohol being allowed at Catholic church galas, the Platte County Fair, Quail Run Golf Course and other community-oriented, family focused activities.
“(PEM) doesn’t go after anybody but the CSA,” he said, because CSA “is a small group, and it is hard for them to fight back.”
According to a resolution of support being circulated in the Columbus community by PEM to prohibit alcohol in city parks, PEM is opposed to “alcohol at community events, including activity in city parks,” “alcohol where young people and families are present” and “alcohol on city property.”
Rev. John Nelson, coalition chairman for PEM, said that position is based on changing the community attitude to one that does not tolerate or accept underage drinking and PEM has approached the Platte County Agricultural Society regarding the beer garden at the fair.
By allowing alcohol at CSA events it demonstrates alcohol is an element needed to have fun, Nelson said.
“Even though it is an adult league with adults it does affect the issue of underage drinking,” he said.
Stacy Riley, PEM coordinator, said the difference between CSA and Gerrard Park and Quail Run Golf Course is that the golf course has a liquor license, which has much different policies and regulations than a canned beer permit.
Diane Riibe, executive director of PEM, said discussions with those other organizations could occur, but she doubts it would change the community’s position at this time.
“The community is probably not ready for that discussion,” Riibe said. “Is there a desire, a willingness on the part of community leaders ... to change the environment in the community in a park on city owned property? The community of Columbus and Platte County have been seen as having a bit of a love affair with alcohol.”
When asked how prohibiting adults from having alcohol at an adult softball league that has been a good steward of the permit is going to further the cause of eliminating underage drinking, she said that allowing alcohol at community events and city parks has a direct correlation with youth drinking overall.
Nelson said the community should take a stance for what is best for Columbus overall and to prohibit alcohol at parks.
People don’t expect alcohol at a city park, he said.
When asked if the long history of CSA’s request for canned beer permit and the controversy that surrounds it each year is enough to raise that awareness, he said those who are aware of the issue may be, but he is not sure everyone else would expect beer at the Gerrard Park softball complex.
“It wouldn’t have been a big issue if Columbus didn’t have such a big (history) of underage drinking issues,” Nelson said.
Zybach said although he supports PEM’s primary mission against underage drinking, it is ultimately up to parents to be parents and teach their kids to not drink if they are underage and to teach them not to abuse alcohol when they are of age to drink.
“I have two daughters who are adults. I wanted to be a parent. I am going to teach them what’s right and wrong. I don’t want them learning from other people,” he said. “We need to protect our children, but that is a parental thing.”
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