The Person Board of County Commissioners on Monday voted to impose a general prohibition of alcohol consumption on any county property.

The action passed by a 4-0 vote. Commissioner Larry Yarborough did not vote on the matter, and Commissioner Kyle Puryear was not present for the meeting.

Yarborough seemingly abstained from the vote after his substitute motion died for lack of a second. He did not request to be excused from voting on the measure, nor did the board vote to excuse him from voting. As a result, in accordance with board rules, he was formally recorded as voting in favor of the motion.

Yarborough wanted commissioners to adopt a more limited alcohol ban, one whereby alcohol could be consumed on county property with a special occasion permit. Yarborough gave examples of events at the Kirby Civic Auditorium and the amphitheater at Mayo Park where alcohol might be appropriately allowed with a special permit.

The board’s action Monday came in response to a request from Mitch Pergerson, director of the Person County Recreation, Arts & Parks Department, who sought the general prohibition. But Pergerson would like to examine the possibility of special occasion permits in the future, according to County Attorney Ron Aycock.

“Our proposal is to put something in place,” Pergerson said. “We do feel there is a need for special use permits [in the future].”

Pergerson gave examples of Olive Hill Park, where there is no ordinance, the Huck Sansbury Recreation Complex, which falls under city-regulated policies, and Helena, which falls under regulations of the Person County Public Schools.

Aycock advised commissioners Monday that they had four options to consider:

• A general prohibition as requested;

• A prohibition during specified hours;

• A prohibition on specified property;

• A prohibition except with a special occasion permit.

“The recreation department has requested that you pass an ordinance prohibiting consumption on all county property,” Aycock wrote in a memo to commissioners. “Their concern is that absent such an ordinance there is no authority to charge [criminally] anyone who drinks on county recreational property.”