By Kellen Olshefski
Correspondent
An application for a Reserve Class B Alcohol license from the Walworth County Agricultural Society was sent to the Planning Commission for further review following discussion of the topic at the City of Elkhorn Legislative and Regulatory Committee meeting on Nov. 11.
The license, if eventually approved by the full City of Elkhorn Common Council, would allow the agricultural society to sell alcohol, including hard liquor, at all events held on the Walworth County Fairgrounds. Currently, the society applies for a temporary beer license for each individual event.
At the Nov. 11 meeting, City Clerk Cairie Viruetta said this is a unique situation, as the State usually issues alcohol permits for fairgrounds. However, as the fairgrounds are privately owned, the City of Elkhorn is in charge of granting the license.
Walworth County Fairgrounds Manager Larry Gaffey, who was in attendance at the meeting, clarified that there is no intention to sell alcohol during the Walworth County Fair.
While there is a long-standing myth that the fairgrounds were donated with the stipulation that alcohol not be served on the fairgrounds during the Walworth County Fair, Gaffey said that it is simply not true. He said the land was purchased by the ag society and there were no restrictions placed on serving alcohol.
“Really, since 1849, they’ve just chosen not to,” he said, noting that the society thought about trying a couple of times in the late 1800s but ultimately decided against it.
Read the rest of the story in the Nov. 21 Elkhorn Independent.
