A violation of the Chattanooga beer code that took place at an event during MainX24 came before the Chattanooga Beer Board on Thursday morning. The promoter, Stratton Tingle, under the name of his business Flavorless, organized a party that started Dec. 1, 2018 and lasted into Dec. 2 at a warehouse located at 1612 Cowart St. The building was chosen because it was in close proximity to the street party being held on Main Street. That morning, Chattanooga Police found there was no special gathering permit for the event.
The party was by invitation, but the crowd grew as even more people showed up.
Mr. Tingle told the board that he was unclear about the difference between a special event beer permit and a special gathering permit and he thought that the caterer’s beer permit would meet the requirements. The Bitter Alibi, 825 Houston St., which had been hired by Mr. Tingle to serve alcohol, handles many catered events and customarily applies to the beer board five days in advance of each event as required by law. Initially, the board was unclear about which entity was responsible for the violation. Assistant City Attorney Keith Reisman said his interpretation was that it was Bitter Alibi’s violation. Chairman of the Beer Board Ron Smith saw it as Mr. Tingle’s responsibility, saying since he organized the event he should have coordinated all components and made sure everything was in order.
Conditions that define a special gathering include that there is an admission charge, no one is selling alcohol, but patrons bring it themselves, there are over 50 people in attendance and the event is taking place after midnight. This gathering met all the requirements for that type of permit which also requires the prior notification to the police, security to be present and fire and building inspections at the location of the party. The owners of Bitter Alibi told the board that the required paperwork had been prepared, but they had failed to get it filed.
Mr. Tingle took responsibility and apologized for not being in compliance as did the representatives from The Bitter Alibi who said the hearing had been a learning experience. Neither party had a previous violation of the beer code. It was determined that the violation belonged to the caterer. “All parties said we made a mistake and have learned from it,” said Board Member Dan Mayfield, before his motion to dismiss the charge failed to get the required five votes. A second motion for the choice of a one-day suspension of Bitter Alibi’s caterer’s license or paying a $250 fine passed unanimously.
Special Event beer permits were approved for two events benefiting the Creative Discovery Museum. Denise Karnes received one for Amuse Um 2019, College Daze that will be held March 2, 2019 from 7 to 11 p.m. and for Drink and Discover April 18 from 7 to 10 p.m. Both will be held at the museum at 321 Chestnut St. Amuse Um is the biggest annual fundraiser for the museum. This year the space and attendance will be increased by a tent in the back parking lot and there will be a live band. The caterers, Black Tie Affair, will be the servers and there will be an open bar. Drink and Discover is held three or four times each year with all proceeds going to the museum. At this fundraiser, there will be a cash bar and servers will be from Big River Grill.
The Chattanooga Wrecker Board on Thursday morning approved a new wrecker permit for Tommy’s Automotive & Towing, 5405 Dayton Blvd.
Airport Wrecker, Inc., 1709 Chickamauga Loop, was penalized for the second violation within a 12-month period. Chattanooga Police Officer John Collins received a call after a car crash from an officer at the scene because the wrecker that cleared up the accident did not have “Oil Dry” on the truck. Oil Dry is an absorbent material used to soak up fluids that leak from a vehicle so it can be swept away. This is considered to be required equipment on a tow truck. Owner of the business, James Scott did not dispute the charge and said there was plenty of it in the office and it should have been on the truck that was dispatched to the wreck.
When the wreck was cleared, the driver left and the officer had to call the Chattanooga Fire Department just to clean up the liquids. “It’s wrong for the Fire Department to have to do it when the towing company is being paid to,” said Board Member Christopher Keene. Fluids left on the road can cause dangerous driving conditions in addition to contributing to runoff polluting the Tennessee River, said Mr. Keene. It also takes fire personnel away from their jobs and costs the city to perform this service. Mr. Scott said the driver picked up the product and returned to the scene, but the mess had already been cleaned up.
According to the city’s ordinance that regulates wreckers, a second violation carries the penalty of up to six months suspension from the city’s rotation call list for wrecker companies. The board gave the business a 30-day suspension during which it will be taken off the rotation list. This will start on Feb. 21.