D.O.R.A. ENVISIONED — At Wednesday’s Village Council meeting, Wintersville Mayor Mike Petrella announced public comment will be accepted on the proposed creation of a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, where patrons of local businesses could carry an open container of alcohol, in a specific cup, outside. -- Warren Scott

WINTERSVILLE — At Wednesday’s Village Council meeting, Mayor Mike Petrella announced the panel will soon consider the creation of an area where patrons of local businesses may carry an open container of alcohol outside.

Petrella said a public hearing will be held at 5 p.m. April 8 on the establishment of a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area before a vote at a special meeting to follow at 6 p.m.

More than 100 Ohio municipalities have established D.O.R.A.s, including Toronto last year, with the intention of attracting visitors to commercial areas.

If approved, Wintersville’s D.O.R.A. would include the areas between the Marathon station and the Kroger store on the north side of Main Street and between Clear Creek Coffee and Valley Wine Cellar on the south side of Main Street, as well as village property surrounding the Municipal Building along Grove Street.

During the hours of 11 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. throughout the week, patrons of participating businesses could carry a specifically designated cup of alcohol served there to other locations in the D.O.R.A.

Petrella noted the cups may be filled only once and will be changed regularly to prevent visitors from using them again.

He confirmed any establishment in the D.O.R.A. may exercise the right to deny access or service to someone with a D.O.R.A. cup if it chooses and should post a sign to that effect.

Plans have been made to post signs at each end of the D.O.R.A.

Petrella said, as with other D.O.R.A.s, the intent is to encourage patronage at local businesses.

He said while the area eyed for the village’s is the same as that for Wednesdays in Wintersville, the village’s monthly summer street fairs, the idea for it didn’t originate from the volunteer group behind them.

Petrella said he approached many business and property owners in the area who indicated they’re not opposed to it.

Establishment of the D.O.R.A. also is pending approval of the Ohio Department of Commerce.

In other business:

• Petrella announced the village’s planning commission will meet at 5 p.m. Monday to discuss a property division needed for the village’s acquisition of right of way for a lift station near Ekey Street.

He added council’s finance committee will meet at 6 p.m. that day.

• Village Administrator Jesse Kosegi said he and his staff will be switching to new software for its water bills during the week of March 30, with representatives of the vendor on hand to help ensure a smooth transition.

Kosegi said water customers will see a different style of bill after that but will be able to pay it in the same ways they have in the past.

He said they may pay their bills with cash or checks at the Municipal Building’s front window but should leave only checks in the drop-off box to ensure the village has a paper trail for such payments.

Kosegi noted in addition to mailing in their payments, customers may pay online using Paystar or Doxo.

• Council authorized Petrella to offer $55,000 for a house at the top of Grove Street that has become available for purchase.

The mayor said there are no specific plans for the house, which is along the access road to the Municipal Building, but it may be useful in the future. He said until then, the village may rent it.

Council recently agreed to have Cedar One Realty market the former police station on Leonard Avenue for rental.

Petrella said because it’s in an area zoned residential, it could be used by a business only for storage.

Plans have been made to clean out the building, which had been used by the village for storage in recent years.

• Council heard from Thomas Critser Sr., who lives near the bins established for recyclable materials by the JB Green Team on a lot near Woodridge Drive.

Critser told council bags of trash left outside the bins have blown onto his property multiple times.

“I pick up a 50 gallon drum (of trash) every month from my yard,” he said.

Critser said the problem stems from people leaving bags of random trash or accepted recyclables outside the bins when they are full or failing to break down cardboard boxes they leave in the containers.

“I’m all for recycling, but I’ll bet none of you would want them next to you,” he told council.

Petrella said the site had been seen as temporary and the JB Green Team has considered other sites, while adding more surveillance cameras there could help deter the illegal dumping.

Councilman Randy Spence suggested asking the recycling organization to arrange for more pickups from the bins, including around weekends, when Critser said they often become full.

• Petrella announced the village’s planning commission will meet at 5 p.m. Monday to discuss a property division needed for the village’s acquisition of right of way for a lift station near Ekey Street.

He added council’s finance committee will meet at 6 p.m. that day.