NEVADA – Passage of the county-wide keg ordinance faces only one more hurdle before it becomes law.

The second read of the ordinance was unanimously approved by the Story County Board of Supervisors during its meeting Tuesday morning.

The ordinance faces one more public reading Jan. 19, followed by a Board decision to make it law.

If the law is approved during the next meeting, it will take affect March 20, or 60 days after its approval.

“We are trying to help adults of legal age understand underage alcohol consumption is a problem,” said Story County Supervisor Wayne Clinton. “At no time was there any particular intent to target any specific group.”

According to the ordinance, if the restriction is approved, law enforcement would not be able to access keg records until 12 hours after the sale of the keg.

Supervisor Don Toms said he would not have supported the ordinance without the records access restriction.

“I don’t think the Sheriff or City of Ames would have [accessed records within 12 hours], but it has been removed,” Toms said.

“Compromises have been reached and I anticipate to be supportive as it’s presented in its current form.”

Jon Shelness, former Ames mayoral candidate, voiced his opposition to the ordinance in an address to the board.

“I’m against keg registration, not because I’m against binge drinking, or in support of binge drinking; I just feel like it is being imposed from the top and you have a massive culture of drinkers who are just going to thumb their noses at this law,” he said.

Sherry Bradley, director of the Center For Addiction Recovery in Ames, delivered her support for the ordinance to the board.

“We believe that [keg registration] is a good law enforcement tool,” she said.

“This might be one law enforcement tool that certainly can’t stop binge drinking, but certainly can help law enforcement.”

Gerri Bugg, director of community family and youth development for Youth and Shelter Services, said binge drinking is a county-wide concern.

“Throughout the county, I know kids come to Welch Avenue to come party with college kids and it’s a tremendous influence,” she said. “I don’t think college students understand the impact they have on kids here.”

Toms said keg registration would help curb underage drinking across Story County.

“[Keg registration] was never intended to be directed at college students. It is intended for all underage drinking,” he said. “We need to hold those responsible for obtaining beer for underage drinkers. I think it’s a piece at solving the whole problem.”

No students voiced their concerns during the reading of the ordinance.

The third and final public hearing of the keg ordinance is scheduled to take place Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Ames City Hall.