The Wayland City Council Monday night approved a request from Open Road Brewery for permission to open an outdoor service area year-round after the State of Michigan announced it would allow for them.

Council members also got up on their respective soapboxes to oppose the politicization of a health problem that is Covid and said good-bye to Councilman Tim Rose after eight years of service.

Open Road Brewery owner Bruce Patrick was allowed to have outdoor seating for customers during the warmer months this year, but the state recently said it would allow such services regardless of weather. So Patrick said he’d like to out up a tent in the back alley behind this business on South Main Street.

“My understanding was that we got good feedback from last summer,” Patrick said.

So, concluded City Manager Josh Eggleston, Open Road would be open to outdoor customers to perhaps as much as three and a half seasons.

Councilman Joe Kramer said he liked the change, but wanted assurance the outdoor service wouldn’t be completely enclosed, thereby, “defeating the purpose of outdoor seating” and perhaps being seen as a way to get around health department prohibitions during Covid spikes.

Patrick said he’s likely to install small propane heaters in the tent, adding, “We’re not talking about a lot of people here.”
Eggleston noted, “Anything that’s put up is subject to state regulations as well.”

Council’s vote was 5-0, with member Gary Smith absent because of family issue and Mayor Tim Bala being ill.

The meeting was the last for Tim Rose, who was defeated in the Nov. 3 election. He had been on the council since 2012.

“I was disappointed I didn’t win, but perhaps this is a good time to step down,” he said.

He took the opportunity to get on his soapbox to criticize those who refuse to comply with health department guidelines for masking up in public crowds.

“This Covid thing has exposed the fact that some people do not respect authority,” he said. Rose added that he has seen the same kind of disrespect for city leaf burning laws and restrictions for golf carts.

Council members Joe Kramer, Jennifer Antel and Abe Garcia echoed his sentiments, maintaining the Covid crisis will drag on if people don’t follow the rules.

In a lighter development, City Clerk Lee Ann Clausen reported that 2,162 citizens voted in the general election at a rate of 69 percent of registered voters. She was impressed with the poll workers, saying, “I’m used to hand holding (at her previous jobs elsewhere) in the past, but I didn’t hold anybody’s hand this time.”

The council approved the Planning Commission’s recommendation for special use permit request for a 768-square-foot structure on the Naman Court property of Lisa and Dean Banas.