At Monday night's Athens City Council committee meeting, a new issue was raised pertaining to the recent increase in bar disturbances on Court Street.
Although crowding issues were thought to be the main concern with the bar scene Uptown, Athens Police Chief Rick Mayer said there was more to the problem. Because of the increase in bar fights and assaults, he proposed a training session for all bar employees.
State liquor enforcement, in conjunction with the Athens Police Department and the Athens Fire Department, held a training session for bar employees in 1994, Mayer said.
The training sessions aim to keep bar workers and the state agencies working together to keep the bars safe.
A lot of state agencies will come in and train tavern and liquor license owners. In the past they have been more than willing to do short-term training for the (bar) workers
Mayer said.
In this case, similar training sessions will be held continually. Liquor enforcement will conduct them at no charge, Mayer said.
There may be some underlying issues that are not being addressed that could help prevent future problems in the bars, Mayer said.
Nancy Bain, D-3rd ward, said she was glad when the chief came up with the proposal. The alternative to the training was to send warning letters to the bars that some, including herself, considered problematic.
I wasn't necessarily ready to write letters she said.
Mike Murray, general manager of Lucky's Sports Tavern, 11 N. Court, thought the City Council proposal for training for the bar employees is a good idea. He said it would help keep people on the same page.
It gives the bar workers and the law enforcement agency a medium to work with Murray said.
A proposed resolution to help lessen bar disturbances will also include a change in the distinction in calls coming from the bars to the police.
At Monday night's meeting, Murray said that he thought calls to the police should be somehow distinguished in order to determine if the reason for making the call was under the bar's control. He made the point that even street fights outside the bar would count as a penalty if called in.
They have been saying for years to call the police whenever they have a problem
Murray said. Otherwise people will have to take care of the problems on their own.
Bain said she thought, raw numbers just aren't enough when the police tabulate the list of which bars are problematic. She agrees that calls should be distinguished.
Not all of the calls are alike
she said.
A resolution is up for discussion at next Monday's City Council meeting pertaining to the training for bar employees and this evaluation of calls for service to the police.
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Meghan Nicholson
