Quick meetings in the south Valley

Riverside town council met Thursday at 6 to conduct routine business and issue a liquor license transfer to the new owner of the Bear Trap. Neighboring Encampment’s Town Council met a little later, and conducted its monthly meeting in what one member described as “record time.”

The Riverside council members spent some time planning and coordinating setup for the town’s annual Party Day, which was held Saturday. The Riverside council members also moved through routine town business such as approving payment of bills.

The Riverside council then held a public hearing to grant Riverside Hospitality, LLC., a transfer for a liquor license. Riverside Hospitality is the company that purchased the Bear Trap restaurant in Riverside.

The council voted to issue the transfer of the liquor license. Council member Margaret Weber, the previous owner of the Bear Trap, abstained from the vote. The council also voted to grant Riverside Hospitality 24- hour permits for special events to be held at the restaurant this year.

Even though Weber had already obtained 24-hour permits for events scheduled in 2016, the permits for the remaining events this year will be voided once Weber no longer has a liquor license, Jan Cook, town clerk, said.

The council voted to issue new 24-hour permits to Riverside Hospitality, then closed the public hearing. Riverside Hospitality’s liquor license will take effect Sept. 1, Cook said.

The town council of neighboring Encampment held its monthly meeting shortly after the Riverside council adjourned. Encampment quickly sped through its agenda, which was filled with routine business for the town.

No members of the public were present.

After approximately 15 minutes, the Encampment council adjourned, having completed all routine business in short order, a far cry from last month’s regular meeting which lasted over an hour and was dominated by discussion about packs of stray dogs menacing town residents.

The next meeting of the Riverside town council will be 6 p.m., Sept. 8 at Riverside Town Hall.

The next Encampment Town Council meeting is scheduled for the same day at 7 p.m. at Encampment’s town hall.