Carbondale leaders have approved lifting restrictions on bars and businesses around Halloween.
In their meeting Tuesday night, the City Council approved a measure rescinding the restrictions which had been in place since 1994 - banning the sale of kegs, closing bars, and other regulations.
In a report to the Council, city staff reported Halloween festivities in recent years have not escalated to the level they did in the mid-to-late 1990s, when riots caused damage and kept police busy during Halloween in the area known as "The Strip."
Last year, the city relaxed enforcement of the regulations in a test run, and leaders say they are confident they can manage the activities surrounding Halloween.
Carbondale Chamber of Commerce executive director Les O'Dell says he thinks with the passage of time and results from the last 2 years things are headed in the right direction.
"The trial run a few years proved that its not going to be an issue. We're talking about a completely different student body than we saw in the 80's , these are new people with different attitudes different ideas who like their community so I don't think we'll see the problems that we've seen in the past."
Councilman Lee Fronabarger voted no on lifting the restrictions because of new development on the strip, the weather the last two years that he says held down crowds and the fact that Halloween falls on a Saturday this year.
"I would like to retain what we did last year for one more year if we can get past this Saturday event then maybe next year we could go ahead and just do away with all the restrictions."
Council person Adam Loos also stated he would like to see Halloween be an organized street festival like in the past before the riots became part of Halloween.
The city council reserves the right to re-implement the restrictions in the future if it feels it's necessary.
