CENTERBURG — Centerburg Village Council members are considering a proposal that would allow visitors to openly carry beer or wine in the downtown area.
Mayor Tom Stewart submitted an application to create a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) to the council at Monday’s meeting.
Council members did not discuss the DORA, but they set a public hearing for Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, at 6 p.m. to hear public comment. They plan to give a DORA ordinance its first reading in their legislative session later that evening.
“That does have to go through the full reading process, and then we’ll pass it hopefully at the March meeting,” Village Solicitor Alexis Henson said.
In a letter to the council members, Stewart said creating the Heart of Ohio Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area “represents an important step toward fostering camaraderie, supporting our local businesses, and inviting others to share in the celebration of our town.”
“This initiative will help sustain enthusiasm for our community while bringing new excitement and entertainment opportunities to our citizens,” he wrote.
“Centerburg’s DORA will energize our downtown, attract visitors to local businesses, and advance our long-term entertainment and development goals.”
The DORA boundaries would extend from Preston Street to Clayton Street and from Houck Street to Church Street.
Proposed hours of operation are 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The village will place signs marking the DORA boundaries and provide participating establishments with 100 plastic cups featuring the Heart of Ohio DORA logo. Establishments will thereafter buy the cups from the village.
Village Administrator Rick Dzik said the council can amend the DORA application by the final reading if there are changes it would like to see based on public input.
‘You don’t have to annex’
Milford Township resident Cameron James opposes the annexation of 85.4 acres on Johnsville Road.
Thistlegate LLC and its representative, Linda Hondros, plan to partner with Arbor Homes for single-family units.
Village council members approved an annexation agreement at their September meeting. The Knox County Board of Commissioners approved the annexation on Oct. 30.
“I don’t want to lose Centerburg. I wish you would consider what the people of Centerburg want. People who have been here forever. Think about the schools.”
Milford resident Cameron James
James encouraged council members to look into the Right to Farm law. Right to Farm protects farmers from neighbors’ nuisance complaints.
“People don’t usually move from town to the new development. It’s people from Sunbury wanting to get out of Sunbury, or people from Johnstown,” he said.
“That’s what we all love about Centerburg: a small town. … Just really consider the effects that it has on a town by annexing and doing all this. There’s no law that says you have to annex.”
Dzik said council members plan to visit an Arbor Homes development under construction in Plain City.
“We’re definitely trying to do our due diligence, looking into what people are bringing to the community and things like that,” he said.
Dzik said village officials are reviewing permit fees and other measures to ensure new communities pay for their growth.
One idea is creating a New Community Authority (NCA).
An NCA is a separate government entity that has development powers. It can install infrastructure and acquire land for a development, as well as levy a special tax on properties in that development to pay for the project.
Village administrator report
Dzik will present the 2026 budget in January. He also notified MORPC that the village will participate in the commission’s pilot cohort for the Trail Towns initiative.
The Knox County Land Bank expects to use demolition funds to take down the former Interchurch Social Services building at 40 N. Clayton.
Dzik said the land bank will schedule the demolition after the village removes its property.
The village is working with V3 on several initiatives to ensure the village is prepared for future growth. Plans include a village-focused comprehensive plan and utility upgrade/growth, streets/paving, and parks master plans.
COJFD
Councilman Daniel Hardwick reported that the Central Ohio Joint Fire District board will decide at its next meeting whether to pay off the fire truck the district just purchased, and, if so, how much to pay. The board held funds back in case the levies did not pass.
The board will also decide on a levy replacement for one of the district’s two operating levies. The levy will be on the spring ballot.
Legislative action
Council members waived the third reading and approved an ordinance amending parking ticket penalties.
The amended ordinance doubles the fine for a third violation within six months and triples the fine for a sixth violation within six months.
“The goal is to see if that helps alleviate or mitigate the problems. If not, we can look into some other ways to move people off of our street parking for you know hours at a time,” Dzik said.
Council members suspended the three readings and passed legislation allowing the village to use the gravel lot at 27 N. Hartford Ave. for parking.
“The village ordinances do not allow parking on a gravel lot, but the planning commission was willing to issue a temporary agreement through October of next year,” Dzik said. “My plan is to have paving completed at that time.”
The council took the following additional actions:
•Authorized the village to acquire health insurance through Medical Mutual for full-time employees (a 2.9% increase)
•Waived the third reading and approved joining the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
•Tabled indefinitely an ordinance authorizing a fund transfer from the general fund to the street construction and maintenance repair fund to cover employees’ salaries. Dzik said another fund can handle personnel expenses. Additionally, the tabled ordinance was not the correct way to do a fund transfer.
•Gave a first reading to an ordinance vacating a village easement on Jerry Street
Public participation
Liv Smith of Wildflower Drive asked council about putting up another Blessing Box or changing the location of the existing one.
“We have one by Sunoco. It’s not well known, and it’s not very accessible,” she said.
Smith suggested a box near the gazebo, library, or Memorial Park, since these are central locations with sidewalk access and are easily visible.
“I have a local craftsman who offered to help with builds, and a bunch of people from the community also volunteered their resources and time,” Smith said.
Dzik said the village will work on her suggestion.
Seligman says farewell
Councilwoman Saundra Dove presented flowers and a gift card to outgoing council member Ronda Seligman and extended thanks for Seligman’s hard work on behalf of the village.
Seligman did not run for re-election in November. Don Wallace will take her seat in January.
“I think we’ve had a good group that really worked well together over all the years that I’ve been on council, and I wish Don Wallace the best,” Seligman said.
“There’s going to be a lot going on in the village. There’s been a lot of annexations, and there’s going be a lot of decisions to make, very important decisions to make. I know this group will make the right decisions because we always have, and you always will.”
Miscellaneous news
•Council will have a special executive session meeting on Monday, Dec. 15, at 5:30 p.m. to interview three candidates for village council. Dzik expects council members to appoint a new council member following the meeting.
•Councilman Greg Myers received a letter from Columbia Gas of Ohio notifying him that the utility is asking the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio for a 10% rate increase in February 2026.
•The annual Cookie Walk is slated for Sunday from 3:30 to 5 p.m.