Campground owner Deb Keefe's application for a conditional use permit wins unanimous approval from the County Planning & Zoning Commission

Chimney Rock Campground owner Deb Keefe cleared an important hurdle Tuesday night in getting permission to hold the "Mother Nature's Ball" rock concert on August 22nd and 23rd.

The County Planning & Zoning Commission voted 7-0 to recommend to the Winneshiek County Board that it issue a conditional use permit for the event.  But the commission made numerous changes to Keefe's proposal before approving it.

Keefe's proposal called for ten bands to be playing until 2:00 a.m. both days of the event.  Commission members--as well as several neighbors speaking Tuesday night--called that deadline "unreasonable."  Instead the music will have to end at midnight both nights.

Commission members also worried about security at the event and insurance coverage.  They ordered Keefe to purchase a $5 million insurance policy covering the event and to hire two certified security guards to staff the event during all hours of operation.

The commission's vote came after it heard an hour of testimony on the application.  Keefe's attorney, Jim Burns, called Mother Nature's Ball a "long-standing event" and said local law enforcement officers said they had "no special concerns" about the event when it was held last year.

But neighbor John Hall painted a different picture, saying the event is "a problem that needs to be looked at."  He stressed the need for adequate security and said Keefe hadn't taken adequate precautions to avoid problems.

Neighbor Jim Tweedy said the concert is "very disruptive" and predicted "children aren't going to (be able to) sleep."

Keefe had asked that the Planning & Zoning Commission issue a permit that would cover nine years of holding the event, but P & Z Commission members noted that the county is in the process of rewriting its zoning ordinance, so the commission approved just a signle year permit.

The commission's recommendation still must be approved by the Winneshiek County Board.