(Greensburg, IN) – Greensburg City Council this week approved the 1st reading of an ordinance creating a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA).
This is part of a new state law that went into effect on July 1 which modifies Indiana’s open container law.
“Whereas now you have to remain in an establishment, this would allow individuals inside a sealed off area, in our case would mostly focus on downtown and out at Rebekah Park and Pirate Park, that would allow the open container carry to happen around the areas of the city that we’ve designated,” said Mayor Joshua Marsh, who presented the ordinance to Council.
Marsh says there would be no restrictions placed on current vendors, but to be a part of the DORA they must receive a permit from the city.
“It also does not place limits on private property and business owners,” Marsh added. “So if a business doesn’t want you to bring an open container into their store, they can simply place a sign which would be provided that they don’t allow that in, and that is enforceable action.”
Marsh said it works the other way, in that merchants in the DORA would have the option of allowing open containers to be carried into their business or establishment.
He added the DORA would provide a boost to large-scale festivals and events, such as Main Street Greensburg’s Friends of Fred Food Truck Festival plus the Tree City Fall Festival.
“It will really make those events a lot easier on organizers and a lot more enjoyable for the participants,” Marsh said.
Some council members expressed concerns about far down Washington Street the DORA would go, but in the end, Council approved the ordinance on 1st reading.
2nd reading is expected next month, and if Council signs off on it, the plan would go to the State for final approval.
Mayor Marsh was a guest on Thursday’s edition of WRBI’s The Daily Pod. You can listen to the entire interview here.
