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City supports more liquor licenses for Oregon District

Commission endorses a plan to split the historic district into 2 factions to increase the limit.

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By Steve Bennish, Staff Writer Updated 12:51 AM Thursday, March 17, 2011

DAYTON — The City Commission Wednesday gave its blessing to efforts by Oregon District residents and businesses to split the district in two as a means to accommodate more liquor licenses in the business portion of the area.

The plan is for the Oregon Historic District and the District Business Association to now agree on where the line will be drawn, said Commissioner Nan Whaley. It’s expected the residential area will vote to declare itself dry so that liquor establishments can’t set up within the neighborhood. The business area could then be released from a 17 liquor license- limit, Whaley said. The restriction has hindered at least two businesses over the years, she added.

In other business, the commission passed an informal resolution opposing Senate Bill 5, the controversial measure that would prohibit collective bargaining for public employees. Mayor Gary Leitzell said the resolution, which would be forwarded to Columbus, expresses concern over the speed with which the bill is moving.

Proponents of the bill say it will save the state billions of dollars.

He said while the city strongly encourages the General Assembly to oppose the bill, it should be reworked, not abolished. Whaley said she anticipates a referendum push for the November ballot that could repeal the bill after passage by the General Assembly.

The commission also approved spending $37,064 so the Police Department could purchase a second remote-control robot that could be used to handle dangerous situations such as suspicious packages. The refurbished Northrop Grumman Mini II Andros robot is more versatile than the other machine, said Police Chief Richard Biehl.

The commission unanimously agreed to honorarily name the Salem Avenue Bridge as Ambassador Richard Holbrooke Memorial Bridge in honor of the deceased diplomat who negotiated the Dayton Accords at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 1995. Holbrooke died in December.

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