The City Council voted unanimously Thursday night to create a riverfront development district where restaurants could buy liquor licenses without adhering to state quotas.
Several business owners spoke in favor of the bill during the public comment period, saying it would attract new restaurants and entertainment. The bill must be approved two more times to become law.
However, councilmen Dan Coffey and Steve Price called for more stringent language in the bill that would forbid the city from paying to help new business owners with costs like building refurbishment. The two voted yes on the unamended bill after saying they wanted to explore more options later.
The $1,000 licenses allow the sale of beer, wine and liquor; restaurants that make a majority of their profits away from the bar are eligible. Most bars would not be.
Develop New Albany associate director Jane Alcorn distributed copies of a petition with about 100 signatures of business owners and residents who she said supported the ordinance.
First reading of $5,000 from city for Studio2000SI art project:
• Yes: Dan Coffey, Bill Schmidt, Donnie Blevins, Jack Messer, Mark Seabrook, Jeff Gahan
• No: Steve Price, Larry Kochert
First reading of quota exemption for liquor licenses at downtown restaurants:
• Yes: Dan Coffey, Bill Schmidt, Steve Price, Larry Kochert, Donnie Blevins, Jack Messer, Mark Seabrook, Jeff Gahan
First reading of creation of full-time city attorney:
• Yes: Dan Coffey, Bill Schmidt, Steve Price, Larry Kochert, Donnie Blevins, Jack Messer
• No: Mark Seabrook, Jeff Gahan
Other city council business:
• Six of eight members voted in favor of giving the Studio2000SI student art project $5,000. The bill had been tabled for several meetings. Bill sponsor Price and Larry Kochert voted “no.” Each attributed his vote to the presence of higher financial priorities.
• Six of eight also voted for an ordinance formalizing the council’s approval of city departments’ use of credit cards and purchasing cards. Bill Schmidt and Price voted no.
• Resident Cathy Wicke’s petition to close down an alley adjacent to her East Cottom Avenue property was rejected on its final vote.
• The council unanimously voted to charge tow companies $25 per “junk” car removed to compensate for the city’s administrative work.
• Controller Kay Garry told the council that the police and fire departments’ “drop program” would see 15 workers leave their posts at the end of 2007, taking $1 million in salaries off the books.
• Police Chief Merle Harl asked the council to consider approving new police vehicles to replace several that have traveled more than 150,000 miles and are unsafe.
Floyd County
New Albany restaurant bill approved 8-0
Eateries would be exempt from liquor-license quotas downtown
- Floyd County
-
-
Georgetown spelunker died of self-inflicted gunshot
Crawford County Coroner Chris Brown said he agreed with the pathologist’s finding that Eve died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a statement released Tuesday morning by the Department of Natural Resources.
-
Greenville town manager hired, incensing silenced crowd
Richardson threatened to have the town marshal clear the gym, but decided against it.
“I am asking people out there to stay out of it. This has nothing to do with you. You elected us to represent you.”
But that only go the crowd more incensed.
“You ought to be run out of town Talbotte,” yelled one resident. -
New Albany council opposes two low-income developments
Councilman Greg Phipps said the measure was changed because there could be “some legal issues” with the way it was originally written. He said regardless, such a resolution that targets low-income developments intimates underlying stereotypes to the community even if it’s not the intention of those who supported the measure.
- News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 7, 2012
-
Students get time out for good behavior
-
Student sues to wear breast cancer bracelet
An Indiana eighth-grader sued his school district in federal court Monday for the right to wear a bracelet promoting breast cancer awareness with the message “I (heart) Boobies.”
-
New Albany house destroyed by fire
The fire department arrived within six minutes, but the fire had already made its way out of the garage and across the attic. The homeowners heard explosions from the garage area.
-
Body found in cave may be missing Georgetown man
Conservation Officer Jeff Milner said they believe it is Eve based on evidence found at the scene.
-
Council considers opposing low-income developments
Councilman John Gonder said he supports a system that would allow the city to cap sewer credits for low-income housing and give preference to the New Albany Housing Authority.
He conceded his wife does sit on the housing authority board, but believes the city should give favor to the entity when it comes to low-income lodging because it has to meet federal guidelines. - News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 6, 2012
- More Floyd County Headlines
-
