How will alcohol sales work at Cullman Oktoberfest 2011, the first one to allow beer and wine in local history? At the moment, no one really knows — but local officials are trying to figure it out.

Over the past month the city has forwarded three independent requests to serve alcohol in conjunction with the annual Oktoberfest celebration — set for October 1-8 — to the city’s alcohol review committee. The Oktoberfest board has previously decided not to officially sponsor alcohol sales at this year’s event, opening the door to third-party requests.

All applicants face a tight schedule, as requests must be submitted to the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board at least 25 days before the scheduled event.

With requests rolling in, the ARC met for a three-hour work session Monday afternoon, debating everything from special event guidelines to requirements.

“We just want it to go smoothly this first time,” ARC board member Tommy Waldrop said. “We’re all in uncharted waters here.”

Smith Farms owner Rodger Turner has already been approved by the city for a special events license to sell beer and wine at the Rotunda building in the warehouse district, adjacent to Festhalle Market Platz, the downtown home for official events. Turner has since asked to block off some space outside for patrons to drink, the first request of its kind in Cullman, so the ARC was tasked with ironing out the details.

“I’d like to see them with a uniform cup, because that would look a lot better than standing out there with a beer bottle or a can,” ARC member Zac Wood said.

Cullman Police Chief Kenny Culpepper recommended the event host be required to hire one or more off-duty police officers for perimeter control, plus require arm bands for all patrons inside the designated area.

“We’re setting precedents here, so it needs to be even for everyone,” he said.

Following some debate on where to allow patrons outside, the board and Turner agreed on potentially closing the block of Clark Street in front of the Rotunda.

The new recommendations were a bit more strict than Turner had expected, though he said he still hopes to host sales adjacent to Festhalle.

“I do feel like it’s something I want to do, but I’ll have to see about some things,” he said.

A separate one-day request from Sacred Heart School to serve alcohol at a dinner event at the church is currently pending, and could be resubmitted.

“Obviously, it would be well controlled,” Sacred Heart Principal Ernest Hauk said.

The latest request would allow alcohol sales at the old armory in Cullman, across the street from the Cullman County fairgrounds. Organizers hope to tie the event to the first ever Cullman stop of the Kansas City Barbecue Society cook-off, set for the closing weekend of Oktoberfest. Applicant Jason Moore said he plans to offer beer in the parking lot, which will have to be blocked in to create a contained area for consumption.

“I appreciate the opportunity to get to do this,” he said. “We could be getting in on the ground floor of something that could be really great for Cullman.”

The ARC has a public hearing and meeting scheduled for Thursday at 5 p.m., where they will either recommend the requests for approval or rejection. The final decision on all requests falls to the Cullman city council, which is set to meet at noon on Friday at city hall.

* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220.