There was standing room only on Sept. 9 as business owners and residents filed into the Terlingua Fire and Emergency Management Services center for a public hearing on mass gathering permits. 

The permits were for the Chili Appreciation Society International and Tolbert chili cook-offs that take place the first week of November each year in Terlingua. Commissioners will vote on the matter at the Sept. 22 commissioners court meeting.

In past years, the hearing functioned as a platform to discuss logistics like water, trash disposal, and emergency preparedness. 

Brewster County Commissioner,, Pct. 2, Sara Colando thanked the crowd for coming, saying that the previous year’s hearing had not drawn as much attention. Last year’s permits were denied, and the cook-offs were not allowed to gather for what would have been their 54th year.

Meeting attendees did not want to see that happen again.

“Not issuing the permits caused a good deal of strife last year,” noted longtime Terlingua resident Ed Hegarty, one of several who urged the county to approve the permits.

Terlingua Ranch Manager Keven Brinneman said, “The cook-off is part of our history. Everybody benefits from the tourism industry. It’s the only industry we have.” 

The region took a loss of 11.6% in revenues due to shutdowns last year. For many that amounted to thousands of dollars in losses, but “being a place where people can social distance is a huge plus, and we’ve suffered less than other places,” Brinneman said.

Visitation will continue with or without the permits, several people iterated. Additionally, other large events had been approved throughout the region, such as Alpine Artwalk, Viva Big Bend, and several festivals in Marfa.

Business owner Linda Walker, an EMS board member, said the emergency management response was ready for the cook-off. 

“There are no surprises. Protocols are in place, and we’ve had a year to practice [dealing with the pandemic],” she said, adding that many Terlingua residents first visited the area as chili cooks before buying land and moving here. “Chili cooks have grown our community.”

The group discussed ways to prepare for the influx of traffic that comes with the fall season with or without the cook-offs.

A CASI representative pledged to source as many rapid COVID tests as possible, and Walker asked the county to make tests available at the EMS center.

Brewster County Tourism Council pledged to bring in a couple of roll away dumpsters to help with trash disposal during the festival.

Walker, also a BCTC board member, cautioned that the dumpsters were for household trash only, and not for bulky items.  If locals use the dumpsters illegally, it will make it hard to continue that service, she said.

Brewster County Sheriff Department Chief Deputy Ryan Skelton suggested publicizing general guidelines and Center for Disease Control recommendations as prominent reminders during events.

Not a single person spoke against holding the cook-offs, although public comment will remain open until the final vote by commissioners.