MOUNT VERNON – An Experience Mount Vernon spokesperson told City Council downtown visitors and businesses would like the city to remove DORA restrictions limiting open container provisions only to city-approved events.
The Ohio Department of Commerce defines a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) as “a specified area of land that a local legislative authority has designated as exempt from certain open container provisions as defined within the legislative act that created the DORA.”
Experience Mount Vernon Downtown Manager Anthony McNeal told the council that more than $2,100 raised by the $1 per cup DORA fee has been contributed directly to the Knox Substance Abuse Action Team.
Experience Mount Vernon paid no funds for extra police patrols during DORA events. If an event organizer wanted or needed more police coverage, that organization would pay for the extra patrolling.
He offered two requests for changes to Mount Vernon’s DORA law. First was the removal of “only during city approved events,” which would allow everyday use Monday through Saturday.
McNeal said that the second request was to remove the temporary sign directive to instead require permanent signage at the DORA overlay boundaries, with temporary signage allowed for use during specific events. This code section also would require 40 permanent signs to be placed at the DORA overlay boundaries. This new wording also would require signage prohibiting open containers at all Mount Vernon Nazarene University property, including South Main Plaza.
“Right now, what we’re doing is we are purposefully and very cautiously throwing street parties, and we’re asking people to congregate,” he said. “This would go to the reverse of that, where it’s not a congregation of people drinking or having a drink. It is people being allowed to drink responsibly throughout our downtown on a regular basis.”
Councilmember Amber Keener said these requests to change DORA regulations would be the subject of another committee meeting.
Quicklime storage silo purchase approved
The City Council approved spending just under $1.5 million to purchase a lime silo and slaker system from Integrity Municipal Services. The cost was much less than half what the only other U.S. manufacturer of the system bid.
Councilmember Tammy Woods asked City Engineer Brian Ball and Auditor Terry Scott to confirm the city had the funds before the purchase came up for a vote.
Ball said the city had $2.075 million in reserve funds and the surcharge from Clinton Township to pay for the silo and slaker system.
The water utility is carrying virtually no debt, he said. Future overhaul of its wastewater plant and other maintenance will require a future bond as high as $7 million.
City adds another purchasing program
The city expanded its purchasing opportunities to get purchases at lower prices by joining Sourcewell, a nationwide procurement service created by the Minnesota legislature more than 40 years ago. Sourcewell may expand the array of goods and services available to the city, but not necessarily available through the State of Ohio’s Cooperative Purchasing Program at a lower price.
“Part of this legislation is that we can opt into that program, which allows us to purchase directly from vendors who are on the source for contract,” Safety-Services Director Rick Dzik said.
Law Director Rob Broeren said Sourcewell gets prices for certain things that Mount Vernon could just buy off their list rather than going through a competitive bidding process, as the purchasing program already has done that.
“Any city agent or department would have the opportunity to participate if there’s something on the list that they could get cheaper that way,” he said.
Fire Chief Chad Christopher identified that some fire engines on Sourcewell’s list would result in 5 to 6% savings if Mount Vernon purchased through it, Broeren said.
The council would still need to approve any purchase over $50,000, Dzik said.
