Warrenton city leaders are debating how they might safely resume a summertime staple, free public concerts held in Dyer Park.

Concerts in the Park is a program that brings musicians to perform at public parks throughout Warren County. But the city governments that partner with Warren County Fine Arts Council to host the events have put a hold on all park activities because of COVID-19.

Now, Warrenton Aldermen Mike Shilharvey is asking his fellow city leaders to consider resuming the concerts with new social distancing standards. Shilharvey, who is also involved with the Fine Arts Council, said the concert date in May has been missed, but there are still monthly concerts scheduled for June, July and August. The next Warrenton concert date is June 12.

“You’re in the park area. There is ample space for social distancing,” Shilharvey said, relaying the comments of enthusiasts who had appealed to him on the matter. “And we’ve never really had what you’d call a ‘super big’ crowd there,” he added.

Aldermen were generally in agreement with the suggestion, but debated how they could safely hold concerts and what they would require of attendees.

“I’d love to see (concerts) come back. We can easily socially distance at that park,” said Ward 1 Alderman Cheryl Dyer. “I would like to see some amount of normalcy return, and I think that would be a good way to do it.”

One sticking point for aldermen was whether to mark designated areas where family groups should sit in order to be 6 feet from one another. Shilharvey and Dyer both expressed support for having city staff mark the appropriate areas.

“I think that’s a little overkill. ... I think people can put themselves far enough away from people outside that it wouldn’t be an issue. I don’t know that we need to mark up the whole park,” rebutted Ward 2 Alderman Scott Schulze.

Schulze said his concern was whether the city would open the park restrooms for the concert, and how to keep the restrooms sanitized. Warrenton shut down its park restrooms in March after a series of destructive acts aimed at stealing toilet paper.

“You can’t lock (the restrooms), I would think, during a concert,” Schulze said.

City Administrator Terri Thorn struck a note of caution for the concerts, asking the aldermen to consider how hosting public gatherings would conform to health guidelines issued by Governor Mike Parson. Guidance and regulations could change by the next concert date in June, Thorn said.

“I do think, if we are going to proceed to do (concerts), it would be in our best interest to consider the possibility of requiring mask wearing during the event,” City Attorney Christopher Graville said. He added his support to marking designated areas to keep concert-goers 6 feet apart.

In response to how the city would enforce any restrictions for the concerts, Alderman Dyer said it shouldn’t be an issue.

“We’re not requiring anyone to come to this. I would assume that if you wanted to be there, you would plan to abide by any restrictions we have,” Dyer said.

Aldermen withheld a final decision on the concerts until June 2 to consider a final set of rules. Alderman Shilharvey indicated the bands originally scheduled for the concerts will be available.