By Josh Staloch
Correspondent
ALLOUEZ – From the desk of Village President Jim Rafter, and after much consideration as to proper spelling, it’s hereby official, residents of Allouez will be henceforth known as Alloueznians.
“I often hear people talk about Allouez and about how much they enjoy living in Allouez,” said Rafter at the village board meeting Tuesday, March 3. “When I hear people talking about Allouez, they’re talking about the people, the character of the people who live here.”
Rafter’s resolution originally listed the moniker spelled as Allouenians but after being asked as to why the ‘z’ was dropped from the word, he reconsidered and presented it to the board with the modifier to spell it Allouez and then add ‘nians.’
The resolution passed unanimously.
The only item on the agenda that generated any debate among the board concerned a request by Green Bay East Side Youth Baseball to be allowed to sell beer at youth baseball tournaments this year at Webster Park.
The dates in question cover tournament play between teams made up of 8, 9 and 10-year olds, at the park June 5-7 and then June 19-21.
Stipulations in the agreement require GBESYB provides a police/sheriff officer throughout the tournament, paid for by the group.
Also, approval to sell beer for the second tournament weekend will be contingent on no issues resulting form the sale of beer during the first tournament.
Coming to the podium to offer comment was Eric Hunter, GBESYB vice president, who said the sale of beer at the two events would represent a financial boost to allow the club, among other things, to better accommodate some of the players whose family financial situations might make it difficult to afford to be part of travel ball.
“It also gives us some control over what’s coming into the park,” said Hunter. “We’ve had the problem in the past of people just bringing it in and consuming it in the parking lot and around the fields. I feel that if the teams that are coming know we’re going to have it, they’re going to be less likely to bring it.”
Resident Becky Nyberg opposed the idea.
“I was really surprised when I saw that a youth baseball tournament wanted to sell alcohol,” Nyberg said. “Alcohol isn’t needed at every event. We see the problems that it creates and we’re trying to keep that away from kids. I get that they need the money but I believe that there has to be a better way to do it.”
After consideration by the board and a verbal note from Trustee Rob Atwood it would only take one official alcohol-related complaint at the first tournament to void the opportunity for the next, the resolution passed 5-2 with Trustee Matthew Harris and Rafter voting against.
The board also reached an unanimous decision to approve the one-year extension of the village’s attorney retainer agreement with Hanaway Ross, S.C. at the current rate of $150 an hour.