THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2008
Hire Firm For 'Taste' Beer Sales
By TODD WESSELL
Journal & Topics Editor
Members of the Des Plaines Special Events Commission decided Wednesday to hire a security firm to handle the sale of beer tickets at the early June Taste of Des Plaines.
Thillens, Inc. will be responsible for parking two special vehicles at the Taste event. Each vehicle has two windows where clerks will accept cash payment for tickets that can be redeemed for beer at a nearby tent. In addition a "No Tipping" sign will be posted at the tent.
The annual Taste of Des Plaines has become a popular event over the years attracting large numbers of people. Several musical bands perform, food and beverages are sold, and the Des Plaines Art Guild holds its annual fair. The event will be conducted in front of the downtown Des Plaines Public Library Friday-Sunday June 6, 7 and 8.
Early last year, questions arose about the handling of large amounts of money by volunteers at the beer tent. Suggestions were made to place the handling of money with a professional security firm or by some other means and in so doing, have the volunteers only handle the dispensing of beer. Those suggestions prompted members of the Special Events Commission to complain that the suggestion of a change was an insult to them. City of Des Plaines officials insisted that better accountability of the money be implemented. From that, the decision was made to hire Thillens, Inc., which is based out of Chicago. In addition, a "No Tipping" sign will be posted at the beer tent. Some volunteers had divided up among themselves tip money that beer purchasers had left.
Members of the commission's Taste of Des Plaines subcommittee met in City Hall Wednesday afternoon to discuss the upcoming event and agree on hiring Thillens. When an individual wants to buy beer tickets, they must show proof of age, be given a special bracelet, and will then be directed to the beer tent.
Several representatives of city departments attended Wednesday's meeting as well as officials from the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce, Senior Center, Des Plaines Park District, and Des Plaines Art Guild.