With no problems or issues related to the sale and consumption of alcohol at a June 16 Thornapple Plaza Friday Night Feature, the Hastings City Council Monday approved allowing the sale of alcohol Friday nights from June 30 through August 18.

David Solmes, representing the Hastings Rotary and Kiwanis clubs said everything went smoothly during the “test” event and asked that they be allowed to drop a designated seating area for those who buy alcohol because it was difficult to tell who had a drink and who did not. Councilmen Al Jarvis, Don Smith and John Resseguie said they attended and enjoyed the event and agreed that eliminating segregation of drinkers was a good idea.

Solmes said it turrned out that they actually had too many volunteers at the event and will reduce the numbers in future concerts. The June 16 event had $800 in concession stand sales and $500 of it was for alcohol, far above the average $200 to $400 in sales, he said.

The Baum Family Foundation, which funded the construction of the Plaza and then gifted it to the City of Hastings, also agreed to pay for the entertainment for the first three years. The profits from beer and wine sales will raise funds to pay for the future entertainment acts at the city’s newest attraction.

Some of the conditions for serving alcohol include beer and wine only, a two drink limit, wrist bands, two volunteers at five entry points to ID and give stamps, volunteers for security to make sure no one is bringing in something they shouldn’t or buying drinks for others. Serving begins 30 minutes before events and ends 30 minutes before the end of a concert of less than two hours and one hour before the end of concerts longer than two hours.

City staff will monitor the situation for one “test” year with the provision that they can get involved if a problem arises. The vote to approve extend the sale of alcohol was nearly unanimous, with Councilman Bill Redman the sole “no.”