The concerts on the courthouse lawn will continue for an 18th season this summer.
At their March 17 board meeting, Douglas County Commissioners granted a permit to Chuck Wencl with Red Willow Arts Coalition, to hold the popular Thursday night concerts in front of the Douglas County courthouse. One change to the contract this year, Wencl agreed not to park his trailer on roads adjacent to the courthouse property. Motorists had remarked it was difficult to see around the trailer when heading north on Douglas Street and crossing 7th Avenue. The concerts begin May 28 and end August 20. The music begins at 7 p.m. and concludes at 8:30 p.m.
Commissioners voted down a proposal for a public restaurant and meeting space on Lake Darling. Owners of the Lake Darling Resort had requested permission to build a restaurant/public meeting space on land next to the resort and homeowners association cabins. This proposal, along with additional expansion requests from the resort owners, has been in discussion since last October when it first came to the Planning Advisory Commission (PAC). Members of the public have attended meetings and voiced concerns about the expansion, including concerns over parking and the safety of people crossing County Road 22. At its March 3 meeting, commissioners divided the use permit into sections. All the requests, except the public meeting space/restaurant, were approved.
At the March 17 meeting, commissioners once again discussed the proposal for a public meeting room/restaurant on the shores of Lake Darling. Commissioner Tim Kalina, who also sits on the PAC, said there is still no detailed plan. He said there’s no defined size of the restaurant and no documented setbacks, “I can’t see approving something where there is no plan.” Kalina added that the property owners can build a restaurant/meeting room for resort guests only.
Commissioner Jeff Way made the motion to deny the request for a public meeting space/restaurant saying, “After careful consideration of all the information that has been presented to this board related to the application by Lake Darling Resort… I believe the use presented in the application…cannot be implemented in a manner that would protect the safety and welfare of pedestrians crossing County Road 22, patrons of the proposed restaurant, and vehicle operators and passengers traveling through that congested area.” Way made a motion to deny the public meeting room and restaurant as proposed and added a condition that would prohibit the use of a private meeting room and restaurant by non-resort guests. That motion passed unanimously.
The board also entered into Memorandums of Agreement with the cities of Nelson and Brandon regarding the registration of adult use cannabis businesses. The cities have delegated authority to the county which has a cap of 4 such businesses countywide. A number that is allowed under the state’s formula which is based on population.
The board also approved three businesses for the sale of lower potency hemp edibles, THC beverages with less than 5 milligrams per serving, vapes and gummies. The businesses are: County Line Liquor, Sisters Beer, Wine and Spirits in Carlos, and Nelson Gas and Grocery. There is no limit on the number of businesses that can sell the lower potency products.
The next county board meeting will be held April 7 at 9 a.m. in the Douglas County Administration Building at 821 Cedar Street in Alexandria.