Harmony Park hearing set for Tuesday

Published 9:45 am Monday, August 5, 2013

Area residents will have a chance to voice their opinions Tuesday about the future of Harmony Park, a music and camping venue on the western shore of Geneva Lake.

The hearing comes as Freeborn County commissioners are considering whether to take action on the park’s conditional use permit. The park has been under the spotlight after multiple arrests took place there during the Bella Music Fest on Memorial Day weekend.

Freeborn County Zoning Administrator Wayne Sorenson said in a previous interview that the possible violations are:

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• Noncompliance with permits through the Minnesota Department of Health. At a meeting last month, Sorenson said the Health Department requires all permanent campsites to be labeled and requires a site diagram, which had not been completed when the park was inspected.

• Have a “reputable” security firm on duty at concerts.

• Have a schedule of the five large events submitted to the county by the first of the year.

• Place temporary two-sided no parking signs on portions of 800th Avenue affected by the park.

Park owner Jay Sullivan could not be reached for comment.

Sullivan stated previously the promoter slashed security and medical staff and oversold tickets without his knowledge. He said he was taking steps to ensure that doesn’t happen again by either working hand in hand with the promoters or else running security and medical himself.

The hearing is slated for 9 a.m.w