The Huron City Commission has signed off on the first reading of an ordinance to control what could become a large influx of outdoor beer garden requests by bars and other liquor selling establishments, should South Dakota voters uphold a law that bans most indoor smoking. The ordinance calls for a one-time fee for permanent beer gardens in place for 
longer than 12 days. Beer gardens in place for 12 days or less in a calender year would fit under a temporary license. Any establishment wanting a beer garden for a 13th time or more would need to apply for a permanent license. Excluded in from the proposed rules are golf courses property owned by the State of South Dakota and a bar near the State Fairgrounds that will be grandfathered into the new law. Jim Christen owns Lazers on Dakota Avenue and is opposed to the beer garden ordinance…
Mayor Dave McGirr told Christen the fee was to cover the cost of the beer garden’s inspection by the Building Inspector per language in the ordinance…
[audio:http://prprt.itmwpb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/688/2010/09/beer2.mp3|titles=beer2]Christen said his property extends 25 feet beyond a cement parking lot where the basketball hoop sits. However because it is a parking Chirsten maintains he could not install a snow fence to make the area legal. Brookings has a 22 page ordinance on sidewalkcafes with extensive restrictions on alcohol use. Huron’s ordinance would be come the state’s first ordinance geared strictly towards beer gardens related to alcohol serving establishments. The second and final reading of the ordinance is set for next Monday