City council supports draft beer service
Published 11:00 pm Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Jamie and Lyndsay Taylor, owners of Sips on the Square, met with Troy City Council to gauge interest in allowing draft beer service in Troy.
“Really, we just want your opinions, if it is worth pursuing … if it isn’t, then we will not bring it up ‘till, obviously, it’s with your backing,” said Lyndsay Taylor during the council’s work session Tuesday.
The Taylors cited costs and the impact on the environment (kegs can be recycled) as reasons for getting draft beer service in Troy.
“Really, one of our huge reasons behind wanting to pursue it was variety. There’s a huge variety that we can’t get,” added Lyndsay Taylor. “As far as costs go, we’re paying for the bottles and what’s in it.”
Jamie Taylor said he and his wife had done a lot of research on the subject, seeking the opposing arguments and any obstacles. The only one they saw was regarding off-premise sales. He assured the council that he would not sell kegs from his restaurant.
“We don’t wanna see teenagers dragging kegs to their dorm rooms,” he said.
Councilman Marcus Paramore said his constituents are in favor of draft beer service in Troy.
“When I campaigned for this office over half of the people I talked to brought up draft beer,” he said.
In the research he had done, Paramore had found that draft beer service had to be a legislative act.
Councilman John Witherington spoke to Representative Alan Boothe and Senator Bryan Taylor.
“They’ve indicated there’s time for that to happen and were willing to consider it,” he said.
The congressmen said they would not sign off on anything that included off-premise or Sunday sales, added Paramore.
He thanked the Taylors for investing in downtown Troy and said the council would take their request under advisement.
Councilman Charlie Dunn, Sr. was recovering from surgery and did not attend Tuesday’s meetings. Those who were there expressed support of draft beer service.
“As long as we let everyone else do it, I don’t have a problem with it. It seems very popular,” said Councilman Dejerilyn Henderson.
Mayor Jason Reeves said the city would get with the legislative folks and draft something that would get things underway.
In other business the council:
• Approved a resolution to enter into a $1.3 million loan with Troy Bank to pay for upgrades to computer systems, security systems and maintenance,
• Approved a resolution to declare more than 30 old Troy Police Department shotguns as property surplus; trade them for $3,900 and 30 new guns at a net cost of $11,000,
• Approved a resolution to have the Municipal Code Corporation review and update city codes and ordinances at a cost of $10,000,
• Approved a resolution to enter into an agreement with Verizon that would support 311 service on Verizon cellphones.
• Approved a resolution to continue to provide transportation for the Senior Center through the Pike Area Transit System,
• And approved a resolution to renew the appointment of Dr. Wilton McRae to the Troy Hospital Care Authority board.