Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Alcohol at the Indiana Dunes State Park

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The following is a letter to the editor from a Tribune reader:

re: Natural Resources Commission Rulemaking Docket.

I sent the following letter to the Natural Resources Commission regarding proposed rule changes for a rule titled, "Alcohol in Indiana Dunes State Park," (LSA #16-369).

Please read my letter and if you wish to comment too, do so online at www.in.gov/nrc.2377.htm or write to them at: Natural Resources Commission, Division of Hearings, 100 N, Senate Ave. Room N501, Indianapolis, IN, 46204-2200. A public hearing will probably be in November.

I was a member of the local Alcoholic Beverage Board that denied a permit for Pavilion Partners after public hearings and the State ATC also voted to deny a permit.

At the time of our local hearing, I was concerned about the beach area due to language permitting sales within 100 feet of the main parking lot at the pavilion area as well as limited, if any, law enforcement for this Park.

Even the Dept. of Natural Resources director stated there were only two officers per day assigned to the park and sometimes less. This leaves a minimum of eight hours a day with no coverage meaning local police services must respond.

If local services are responding in these cases, problems have already occurred because there was no deterrent on-site.

At the time, Pavilion Partners stated they would pay for security at events however, after seeing the rest room facility they built and are supposedly maintaining, I seriously doubt they would as they fail to see a urine and feces contaminated floor as a problem.

If I am reading this rule change correctly, there is no limit to alcohol possession or consumption areas other than the youth tent camping sites and the beach.

Again, I question how and where the swimming beach begins and do you intend to allow all the dunes and hills and forested area to become party city.

Even Pavilion Partners agreed in our hearing Dunes Park was a unique area. Destroying unique areas such as this is not part of your job. Protect it.

Ralph Levi

 

 

Posted 9/12/2016

 
 
 
 

 

 

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