Nancy Cross, executive director of Brainerd Community Action, asked the Brainerd School Board Monday to withdraw her request for beer sales on school grounds at the annual Fourth of July celebration.
Instead, Cross asked the school board if Brainerd Community Action could use two school parking lots on the Fourth of July in order to sell all-day parking spots to raise funds for the annual celebration. The funds also would be split with the Central Lakes College Veterans Center and used to help returning war veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The board approved this request. which will allow the organization to use the Brainerd High School senior lot on Fifth Street and the lot south of the football field during the day-long festivities. Cross said they haven't yet determined how much they would charge to park in these lots but estimated between $10-$20 for the day.
Last Thursday, Cross asked finance committee members if the district would waive for one day its alcohol/drug-free zone designation at Adamson Field so the Brainerd Jaycees could sell beer in a beer tent near the field to help offset costs of the annual celebration.
While finance committee members Bob Nystrom and Reed Campbell recommended approval of the request, other board members in attendance, including Kent Montgomery and Lew Hudson, said they couldn't support the action.
Cross said she heard that board members have received many phone calls about this issue and she could not allow any more controversy to take place as a result of the request, which is why she withdrew her beer sales request.
"I know most of you on this board and I call you my friends," said Cross. "I also know most of the people on the city council and I also call them my friends. So because of that, I can't allow my friends to be treated poorly and I can't allow more controversy to take place and therefore respectfully withdraw my drug/alcohol free zone request. This controversy needs to end tonight. We will continue with the status quo. Everything will run as usual. But I am saddened by the individuals who called you and did not call me and meet with me to discuss the matter to come to some workable solution."
Cross said Brainerd Community Action still needed to find a way to at least break even for the Fourth of July celebration. The non-profit organization is now at 27 percent of its fundraising target for the Fourth of July and usually is at about 40 percent at this time.
After passing the request to use the two parking lots, board chair Reed Campbell noted that if every person in the city donated just one dollar to Brainerd Community Action, it would meet its goal.
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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