{"id":39351,"date":"2016-03-17T16:03:26","date_gmt":"2016-03-17T20:03:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/?p=39351"},"modified":"2016-03-17T16:03:26","modified_gmt":"2016-03-17T20:03:26","slug":"breaking-news-lehigh-spring-festival-may-be-in-violation-of-their-special-events-permit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/2016\/03\/breaking-news-lehigh-spring-festival-may-be-in-violation-of-their-special-events-permit\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking News: Lehigh Spring Festival may be in Violation of their Special Events Permit"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"After receiving multiple calls about beer cups with beer in them being left near children, the Lehigh Acres Gazette has started to investigate the issue. We have witness and photography of possible violations of the special event beer section of the Lehigh Spring Festival permit.<\/p>\n

Wednesday Night the beer was flowing outside the contained beer garden and the Lee County Sheriff did not a thing to stop it, why?<\/p>\n

After speaking to Lee County deputies on site, we learned that event committee has told the Lee County deputies to leave people alone and allow the beer outside of the designated area, why?<\/p>\n

It clearly states in the Lee County Event Permit Application on Page 10 (click here<\/a> to see it) \u201cAll alcohol sales and consumption must be maintained within the Beer Garden area.\u201d This direct item was signed by Alise Flanjack Deputy Director Lee County Park and Rec on 01\/25\/16<\/p>\n

From the use agreement with the county (click here<\/a> to read it): Alcoholic Beverages.\u00a0 Only beer and wine sales will be permitted, provided the USER obtains the necessary state and local permits. This activity must be confined to only one designated place to be agreed to by the COUNTY and identified on the approved site plan consistent with paragraph 9. \u00a0This area dedicated to the sale of alcoholic beverages must be physically separated from other festival venues by a fence to prevent unauthorized ingress\/egress.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Fencing is to be approved by the COUNTY and provided at USER’s expense. There may be only one entrance\/exit provided to the alcoholic beverage sale area.\u00a0 \u00a0Alcohol sales are not permitted within the last 1 1\/2 hours prior to the daily closing of the event. No person is allowed to consume alcoholic beverages outside the designated area. \u00a0Alcoholic beverages are specifically prohibited at any other time or location in the park. <\/strong>\u00a0USER is responsible to provide security personnel at the entrance to the beer tent during all open hours to enforce all County rules and regulations.<\/p>\n

When the Lehigh Acres Gazette emailed Lee County Parks and Rec Director Dana Kasler and ask them the questions:<\/p>\n

Why are they allowing alcohol outside the beer garden \/ area? \u00a0 \u00a0Who in the Lee County approved the also called larger beer area?<\/p>\n

Where are the paid deputy’s? And what are they during about issue?\u00a0 The Spring Festival permit states that the alcohol most be in a contained area — look at the photos are these contained areas?<\/p>\n

The Lehigh Acres Gazette gets the following email from Betsy Clayton Communications Director Lee County BOCC, \u201cPlease refrain from emailing or calling staff directly,\u201d So why is the staff hiding from the media now?<\/p>\n

We also received the following email quote from Betsy Clayton, \u201cLee County staff has met with and continues to meet with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office personnel and on-site event personnel at Spring Fest to ensure the organizer is following the agreement and special event permit requirements.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Lieutenant Jeffery M. Dektas Lee County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Office, \u201cOur deputies are assigned to the festival for the safety and security of all who attend. The Beer Garden is not the main focus of our duties. Our duties are multifaceted as directed by the festival permit and state statue.\u201d<\/p>\n

In follow up email from Clayton, she states, \u201cStaff has not witnessed any violations at this time. Staff has met with Sheriff’s Office personnel and on-site event personnel to ensure the organizer is following and will continue to follow the agreement and special event permit requirements.\u201d<\/p>\n

Take look at the photos below all these photos taken outside the designated beer and wine area so is it a violation or not?<\/p>\n