~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
Craig Flack, owner of River Farm Recreation located in Jackson township west of Jefferson, addressed the Greene County board of supervisors at their regular meeting Aug. 3. Flack sponsors large events promoted by Iowa Chill at his farm each summer. The events have often required the intervention of law enforcement and medical services.
Flack inquired about the board’s position on the social host ordinance, presented at several previous board meetings but never approved. Among other things, the proposed ordinance would make the host of a gathering responsible if 18-, 19-, or 20-year-olds consume alcohol.
Board chair John Muir said, “The social host (proposed ordinance) wasn’t addressed at your (Flack’s) situation at all. We did the original social host because our biggest concern was other parties popping up.”
“We didn’t want to pass the resolution because the wording might stop birthday parties and wedding (celebrations),” Muir said.
However, Muir said, “People are terribly concerned (about the River Farm large events.) We want to help you control things and have the environment you want.”
Muir praised Flack for reaching out to law enforcement for help.
Flack acknowledged the event on Saturday night, July 18, was, in his words, “unusual.” He added, “But it was the best event we’ve had.”
The Sheriff’s report for that weekend includes activities related to River Farm Recreation starting with an incident Saturday, July 18, at 2:01 am and ending with an incident at 1:27 am Sunday morning. Reported incidents were illegal narcotics found in two vehicles, an assault while displaying a hand gun, an arrest for bodily injury assault and carrying weapons, sexual assault, people hanging out of the doors of cars and kids climbing into the trunk of a car. There were two documented ambulance calls to rescue unresponsive people.
Continuing into the early hours of Sunday, there was another ambulance call at 12:11 am for an unresponsive person and another sexual assault investigation at 1:27 am.
Flack described the dream he has of a recreational venue for family activity. He said he doesn’t like media attention paid to his business and resents “rumors of human trafficking.”
“My insurance has gone from $500 to $2600,” Flack complained. “We’ll do one more event on August 14, 15, 16 and see what that does.”
Muir told Flack he has a “unique venue with high potential for entertainment.”
In conjunction with county sheriff Jack Williams, Muir suggested making a plan for security at the August event “at county expense.”
“We just want to keep people and the roads outside (the River Farm) safe,” he said.
Iowa Chill has provided promotion for previous events. A promoter with Iowa Chill, Nathan Brown, has been involved in several of those events. Communication by GCNO with Iowa Chill confirmed Brown is still connected with that promotion company.
Brown spoke to the board, presenting himself as being from Stutterbox Productions.
“Stutterbox has rented the farm for the August event,” Brown said. “Security services will be provided and Craig (Flack) will be working with sheriff Williams, also.”
The River Farm has been listed for sale with Peoples Company, an online real estate sales company with Iowa offices in Indianola and Clive. A total of 232 acres in two tracts has been listed. The online bidding ends Thursday, Sept. 10, at 4 pm.
