Springfield city officials have concluded an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission inquiry into an incident that took place at Ulmer Park prior to a barbecue cookoff.

Eight people, some city employees and officials and some private citizens, were interviewed about an incident that occurred just after midnight on Aug. 21, 2010, at Ulmer Park.

Witnesses told investigators that a group of people, including Mayor Jeff Northway, were at the park preparing for a benefit barbecue contest and that “some provocative dancing” took place.

“For a lack of a better term, it was reminiscent of a strip club,” one of the witnesses said.

Though no articles of clothing were removed and there was no skin to skin contact, according to witnesses, one of the interviewees said he felt it “was out of place for the company we were in and the way certain people were ‘dancing on others.’” He also said the mayor was somewhat removed from the events and kept his distance from it.

For the complete story, see Friday's edition of the Effingham Herald.