Christian County now has a new event policy. On Tuesday, Aug. 1, the county commission approved a new policy which will include an updated application for paid public events and what is required for public gatherings on private property. The policy is included at the bottom of this article.
“We have to be careful with not violating private property owners’ rights,” Lynn Morris, county presiding commissioner, told the CCT, citing an incident where a gathering of hundreds of people on private property in rural Christian County got out of hand with drugs, alcohol, noise and frolicking. The biggest concern was that the event was a paid event, and was supposed to be around 50 people, but law enforcement discovered more than 500 participants doing things that were questionable and potentially disruptive.
“I’m pleased that we responded in this way to this incident and were able to stop a future incident from occurring,” Morris told the CCT. “This new event policy is a result of a citizen work study session.”
Since January, Morris has been listening to citizens on what kind of issues are important, followed by work sessions where citizens come up with solutions together on issues they find concerning.
New 2023 Event Policy
ORDER OF THE
CHRISTIAN COUNTY COMMISSION
OZARK, MISSOURI
DATE ISSUED:
August
2023
SUBJECT:
Special Event Permits
Order No.
WHEREAS, pursuant to RSMo. §§ 49.266 through 49.270, the Missouri
legislature has recognized the authority of County Commissions to enact Orders to
manage and control county property, including roadways and other areas in which the
public may gather, for the safety, health, prosperity, peace and good order, comfort
and convenience of the county and its inhabitants, and for the protection of the
property thereon; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to RSMo. § 192.300, et. seq., the Missouri legislature
has recognized the authority of County Commissions to enact Orders as will tend to
enhance the public health, especially as it relates to large gatherings of people; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to RSMo. §§ 64.341 through 64.345, the Missouri
legislature has recognized the authority of County Commissions in counties of the first
class to enact Orders and make and promulgate regulations for the regulation of areas
of public use and recreational areas, including regulating the hours, conditions,
method, and manner of such use; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to RSMo. § 44.080, et. seq., the Missouri legislature has
recognized the authority of County Commissions to establish local Offices of
Emergency Management, and to enter Orders to effectuate the purposes of that
chapter; and
WHEREAS, the Missouri legislature has otherwise provided County Commissions in counties of the first class with the authority to enter Orders that
promote and enhance the general welfare and public safety of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, the Christian County Commission has previously passed an Order
regarding Emergency Management, which provides, among other things, that the Office of
Emergency Management is tasked with conducting an evaluation of the need for coordinated
planning and the potential for on-site public safety operations in cases where special event
permitting is required; and
WHEREAS, the Christian County Commission has previously passed an
Order, Order No. 03-05-07-1, requiring certain individuals or entities to apply for a
special event permit in the qualifying event is being held; and
WHEREAS, the Christian County Commission now seeks to amend that
Order, to provide for enhanced penalties in the event an individual or entity fails to
obtain a required special event permit or to abide by its terms, and to clarify the time
period in which a special event permit must be obtained.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ORDERED BY THE
COUNTY COMMISSION OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, MISSOURI, AS
FOLLOWS:
1. That Christian County Order No. 03-05-07-01, remains in full force and effect, except as
amended and supplemented below.
2. No person or entity shall sponsor, participate in, allow, or conduct any special event, as
defined by Christian County Order No. 03-05-07-01, without a permit issued by the
Office of Emergency Management. Any person or entity who has been granted a permit
shall cause the permit to be publicly displayed at all times during the special event.
Permit fees may be as established by Order from time to time and on file with the County
Clerk and the Office of Emergency Management.
3. The Director of the Office of Emergency Management shall have the authority to create
and circulate an application form for the approval of such permits at his or her sole
discretion.
4. No special event permit shall be issued for any use of private property within the county
unless such proposed use is allowed under the county’s existing zoning regulations.
5. An application for a special event permit shall be submitted at least 30 days prior to the
proposed event for which the application is made. Applications submitted less than 30
days prior to the proposed event shall be denied, except for good cause shown at the
discretion of the Director of the Office of Emergency Management.
6. This Order shall be enforced by the Christian County Sheriff’s Office, or any law
enforcement agency with which Christian County has a Cooperative Law Enforcement
Agreement.
7. Failure to obtain a permit, or violation of any condition of a permit, shall be punishable
by a Class D misdemeanor, including a fine of up to $500.00 per offense, by injunctive
relief instituted by the County, or any combination thereof or in addition to any other
enforcement proceeding available by law to the County. Any special event permit issued
may be revoked at any time by the Director of the Office of Emergency Management for
violation of any conditions of the permit. The Director may deny the application if the applicant previously violated this Order.
8. Should any section or portion of this Order be held unlawful or unenforceable by any
court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall apply only to the specific section, or
portion thereof, directly specified in the decision. All other sections or portions of this
Order shall remain in full force and effect.
9. This Order shall be effective immediately upon its passage. Copies of this Order shall be
maintained in the office of the Christian County Clerk. A copy of such Order shall be
published in some newspaper in the county in three successive weeks, not later than thirty
days after its entry.
By Order of the County Commission of Christian County, Missouri.
Presiding Commissioner
Lynn Morris
Eastern Commissioner
Bradley Jackson
Western Commissioner
Hosea Bilyeu
ATTEST:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
County Clerk
County Counselor
CHRISTIAN COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
100 W. Church Room 100
Ozark, MO 65721
(417) 582-5400 Email: philamtower@christiancountymo.gov
Internet
thru Businesses/Organizations
At the gate
Outside source (example: Ticketmaster)
Other
Are ticket sales intended for:
Local
Regional
Midwest National
International
Intended Audience:
Kids Teenagers
Young Adults
Adults
Senior Citizens
Specialized Audience: (explain)
EVENT SPECIFICS
Hours of Event (explain in detail):
Is this an Outdoor Event? Yes
No
Will there be amplified music:
Yes
No
Will there be Camping on site? Yes
No
Will there be Security? Yes No
Type of Security:
|Professional Company Off-Duty Law Enforcement
Name of Security Agency
Armed?
Yes
No
Licensed?
Yes
No
Will entrance and exits be monitored by security?
Yes
No
Will there be Alcohol served onsite?
Yes
No
Will Alcohol be permitted to be brought in to the event?
Yes
No
Have you applied for the appropriate alcohol sales license?
Yes
No
Will there be food sales?
Yes
No
Food Service:
Multiple Vendors
Will food be permitted to be brought in?
Single concessionaire
Yes
No
Have you applied for the appropriate Health Department licenses/permits?
What is your plan for sanitation/waste water: Porta-Potties
Yes
No
Onsite Facilities
Aircraft
Will there be:
pyrotechnics
lasers
Bon-Fire
Other
Will a stage be built?
Yes
No
Will Medical Personnel be on site?
Yes
No
Is the Event Organizer and/or Applicant insured for this type of event?
Yes
No
Does your insurance require an Ambulance Standby? Yes
No
Will this event encroach on any county, city or state roadway (marathons, 5k runs,
etc.)?
Yes
No
Will Event affect traffic flow or require street closures?
Yes
No
Require traffic direction and control restrictions?
Yes
No
Do you have a Traffic Plan for arrival/departure?
Yes
No
(Please show on site plan)
Does the organization that holds the event possess a current 501(c)3 not-for-profit registration? Yes No
Has this event taken place previously? Yes No
If yes: When:
Where:
Site Plan:
Attendance:
Print Form
Save as a PDF
Please include a “site plan” of the event. Include: traffic flow, locations of booths, concessions, displays, stages, tents, canopies. Locations of generators and any type of cooking appliances. Fire hydrant locations, any flammable or combustible liquids. Location and capacity of event parking and event egress and ingress.
See the Christian County GIS viewer for a printable map to use for your site plan: https://christiangis.integritygis.com/H5/Index.html?viewer christian
Approved
Not Approved
Do not write below this line
Signature
Zoned accordingly?
Yes
No
P&D Approval? Yes No
Agency/Office
Approval
Contingencies / Special Conditions
Sheriff
Yes
Local Fire Dept
Yes
EMS
Yes
No
Local Law Enforcement
Yes
No
Health Dept
Yes No
Planning Dept
Yes No
EMA
Yes
No
Highway Patrol
Yes
No
County Commission
Yes
City/State/Zip:
EVENT ORGANIZER CONTACT INFO
Daytime:
Cell:
Phone that you can be reached at during the event:
Set-up Date(s):
Event Date(s):
Event Date(s):
Evening:
Fax:
Time:
Time:
Time:
EVENT INFORMATION
Title of Event:
Purpose of the Event:
Sporting event
Competitive road-race
Foot
Bicycle
Motor vehicle
Convention
Outdoor Festival / Concert
Parade
Political rally
Religious Rally-Service
Sales
Speaker
Family Reunion
Detailed Description of Event:
Is this a Benefit? Yes No Name of beneficiary?
Event Location:
Is property within City Limits?
Yes
No
How is the property zoned? (Commercial, Residential, etc.)
Property Owner:
Property Owners Phone: Home
ATTENDANCE
Which City?
% donated
Do you have a contract with them?
Yes
No
Work
Cell
Expected Attendance (including event crew, participants and spectators):
Public Access:
Open Event
Private Event
Tickets Required
Tickets at the Door
Ticket Sales:
Phone
Internet
thru Businesses/Organizations
At the gate
Outside source (example: Ticketmaster)
Other
Are ticket sales intended for:
Local
Regional
Midwest National
International
Intended Audience:
Kids Teenagers
Young Adults
Adults
Senior Citizens
Specialized Audience: (explain)
EVENT SPECIFICS
Hours of Event (explain in detail):
Is this an Outdoor Event? Yes
No
Will there be amplified music:
Yes
No
Will there be Camping on site? Yes
No
Will there be Security? Yes No
Type of Security:
|Professional Company Off-Duty Law Enforcement
Name of Security Agency
Armed?
Yes
No
Licensed?
Yes
No
Will entrance and exits be monitored by security?
Yes
No
Will there be Alcohol served onsite?
Yes
No
Will Alcohol be permitted to be brought in to the event?
Yes
No
Have you applied for the appropriate alcohol sales license?
Yes
No
Will there be food sales?
Yes
No
Food Service:
Multiple Vendors
Will food be permitted to be brought in?
Single concessionaire
Yes
No
Have you applied for the appropriate Health Department licenses/permits?
What is your plan for sanitation/waste water: Porta-Potties
Yes
No
Onsite Facilities
Aircraft
Will there be:
pyrotechnics
lasers
Bon-Fire
Other
Will a stage be built?
Yes
No
Will Medical Personnel be on site?
Yes
No
Is the Event Organizer and/or Applicant insured for this type of event?
Yes
No
Does your insurance require an Ambulance Standby? Yes
No
Will this event encroach on any county, city or state roadway (marathons, 5k runs,
etc.)?
Yes
No
Will Event affect traffic flow or require street closures?
Yes
No
Require traffic direction and control restrictions?
Yes
No
Do you have a Traffic Plan for arrival/departure?
Yes
No
(Please show on site plan)
Does the organization that holds the event possess a current 501(c)3 not-for-profit registration? Yes No
Has this event taken place previously? Yes No
If yes: When:
Where:
Site Plan:
Attendance:
Print Form
Save as a PDF
Please include a “site plan” of the event. Include: traffic flow, locations of booths, concessions, displays, stages, tents, canopies. Locations of generators and any type of cooking appliances. Fire hydrant locations, any flammable or combustible liquids. Location and capacity of event parking and event egress and ingress.
See the Christian County GIS viewer for a printable map to use for your site plan: https://christiangis.integritygis.com/H5/Index.html?viewer christian
Approved
Not Approved
Do not write below this line
Signature
Zoned accordingly?
Yes
No
P&D Approval? Yes No
Agency/Office
Approval
Contingencies / Special Conditions
Sheriff
Yes
Local Fire Dept
Yes
EMS
Yes
No
Local Law Enforcement
Yes
No
Health Dept
Yes No
Planning Dept
Yes No
EMA
Yes
No
Highway Patrol
Yes
No
County Commission
Yes
Special Requirements / Stipulations set forth from agencies above:
This is the first time the policy has been updated since 2007.