photo by: John Henry/Journal-World File Photo

In this file photo from April 6, 2008, Jackie Stiles, center, of Wichita, breaks into laughter as she sees Tempe Harty, of Eudora, hold out a 32-ounce beer at the finish line of the annual Brew to Brew run from Kansas City, Mo., to Lawrence.

This story was updated at 5:38 p.m.

Leavenworth County commissioners have denied a permit that the annual Brew to Brew Relay needs to complete its course to Lawrence, citing crude behavior and safety issues.

Leavenworth County commissioners voted to deny the permit for the 44-mile relay, which traditionally runs between a brewery in Kansas City and a brewery in Lawrence. The denial, which came Wednesday as part of their meeting, was based on concerns that the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office had expressed, according to meeting minutes. However, relay organizers say they attempted to offer solutions to resolve the issues so the event could continue as planned.

Leavenworth County Administrator Mark Loughry told the Journal-World Monday that some small issues with the relay had arisen over the years but that last year was “over the top.” Loughry said that relay participants urinated, defecated and discarded empty beer cans, bottles and other litter in people’s yards.

There were also traffic-related issues, Loughry said. Because the event is relay style, vehicles accompany the runners. He said drivers ignored instructions from sheriff’s office personnel to move off railroad tracks and that vehicles remained on the tracks as a train approached. He said that ultimately the train had to come to a complete stop.

“From a safety perspective, it wasn’t good for residents,” Loughry said.

The annual springtime relay, a fundraiser that typically involves thousands of runners, has been a Lawrence fixture since 1995. Brew to Brew Director Nancy English said there are about 2,500 people who run in the relay each year, and that the issues were caused by only a handful of participants. She said organizers were able to identify some of the participants that caused issues last year and barred them from registering, and that there were additional ways she tried to address the concerns.

“I understand that it shouldn’t be happening, but with any public gathering there will be a handful of people who misbehave,” English said.

English said that relay volunteers pick up cans and other litter along the course once the event is over. She also offered to pay to staff eight law enforcement officers along the course to ticket anyone who caused issues. She said the Leavenworth Sheriff’s Office declined that offer, saying that it did not have the necessary manpower. When she offered to pay officers from other organizations, the sheriff’s office said that could create jurisdiction issues.

English noted that the relay benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She said the event typically raises about $80,000 each year and is one of the foundation’s biggest donors. She said she has refunded the registrations of about 20 people since the course change was announced, but still plans to hold the relay this year.

The event has several Lawrence sponsors, including Lawrence Beer Co., LMH Health and the city’s visitors bureau, Explore Lawrence. The Journal-World was not able to reach representatives for those organizations late Monday afternoon.

The relay was originally scheduled to start in Kansas City, Mo., and finish in Lawrence. The course was to end in the 800 block of Pennsylvania Street with a street party, according to permit requests submitted to the City of Lawrence. Instead, the course now doubles back once runners reach Bonner Springs and will finish back at the starting point in Kansas City, according to the event’s website. The relay is scheduled for March 29.

photo by: John Young/Journal-World File Photo

In this file photo from April 2013, Matt Hanson, right, Kansas City, Mo., is joined by friends as he nears the finish line along the Kansas River levee during the annual Brew to Brew Relay from the Boulevard Brewery in Kansas City, Mo., to the Free State Brewery in downtown Lawrence.