Greencastle Council to vote on DORA again tonight

Again Thursday night, the Greencastle City Council will take up the matter of a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, with the hope of approving second reading. 

Last November, the council voted 4-2 against the measure, sending proponents back to the drawing board. In December, the measure was approved on first reading by a 5-2 vote. Council members Vincent Aguirre, Katherine Asbell, Dave Mastin, Mark Hammer and Tina Nicholson voted in favor, while Stacie Langdon and Darrel Thomas were the lone no votes.

However, last month, a move to approve second reading was tabled until tonight's city council meeting, which will be held at City Hall at 7 p.m. 

Aguirre, who has been in favor of the district since the beginning, is optimistic heading into the meeting. 

"I hope we can get the Dora passed as a first step towards showing our businesses that the city cares about them and their wellbeing. They need all the support we can give them right now, and I hope the Dora gives them an immediate boost as the city searches for other ways to support them," Aguirre told The Putnam County Post. 

Two months ago, city council got an earful from business owners, who flooded city hall with messages asking for the district and some help to their respective businesses in the wake of the US 231 construction. 

Alex Eaker, co-owner of Lost Hollow, told council the Dora district would put perimeters around drinking in town. 

"The Dora actually puts perimeters around drinking so it protects the people who are doing it and the businesses as well. This already happens in Greencastle, where people are walking out with alcohol," said Eaker, who added passage of the measure would help bolster various events in town. 

Council also heard from Joel Everson, owner of The Whisk and the Bodega, as well as Pete Meyer, owner of Moore's Bar and Grill, who both spoke in favor of the measure. 

Everson said the Dora district would be a "win" for downtown business owners and reminded council the ordinance was initially presented "on behalf of local, small businesses in downtown Greencastle who have been struggling."

"We are not talking about people drinking more beer or less beer or becoming bigger bourbon fans. We are talking about our small businesses in a historic downtown," Eversole said. 

Meyer reminded council that there is currently no open container law in downtown Greencastle. 

Under the proposal, individuals 21 years of age and older would be able to purchase alcoholic beverages from approved vendors and retail establishments and carry them outside the business to be consumed within the district's boundaries.