Tim Doherty

American Staff Writer

The Hattiesburg City Council and Mayor Johnny DuPree didn’t have a problem with the sale and consumption of beer and wine on the streets of downtown during certain events.

It was potential requests for similar privileges outside that area and a question of whether only beverages purchased on-site could be consumed in public that led to an extended conversation during Tuesday night’s council meeting.

In the end, council voted 4-0 to amend the ordinance overseeing the regulation, possession and consumption of certain alcoholic beverages “in certain places and exceptions for special events.”

Those “special events” primarily are annual events that close down the center of town during various times of the year — HUBFest, Eaglepalooza, Historic Mobile Street Renaissance Festival, art walks.

The adopted amendment would eliminate the need for council to grant a waiver to the city’s alcohol ordinance each time those events are held.

City Attorney Charles Lawrence said the amended ordinance also dealt with events like “Live at Five,” where folks have been known to bring their own supplies to the festivities.

Lawrence said such potables could be consumed in public, though glass containers would be banned and the beverages for consumption would be limited by any restrictions imposed by the state’s Alcohol Beverage Control administration.

The grist for Tuesday’s discussion was how the amended ordinance handled potential events outside the downtown area.

DuPree called the permitting regulations “too cumbersome,” having to not only go through city administrative channels, but then come as an agenda item before the council for approval.

“People are going to have to be very timely,” DuPree said, “because we have to get it to (council) in time for you to approve it. So, that’s what I’m saying: It’s cumbersome.”

But Council President Kim Bradley argued that any planner should know well in advance the date of any such event, and that the downtown events were what sparked the idea to amend the ordinance.

“We’re kind of getting in the weeds here and losing our focus a little bit,” Bradley said.

After agreeing that application for an event outside the downtown area must be brought forward at least four weeks before it is held, the council passed the amendments.

The council tabled the adoption of zoning variances and use permit upon review that would have created additional parking behind T-Bones Records and Café.

Ward 4 Councilwoman Mary Dryden said she had issues with the impact additional traffic would along the alley that would act as a conduit between North 21st and 22nd avenues, and asked for modifications to the plan.

The council also tabled an item to hire Nicholson and Company to do the city’s annual audit.

The council did approve a use permit upon review for an “automobile sales lot” at 5584 Mississippi 42.