Stellar claim reveals drama of damaged Moore’s Bar sign

Imagine losing the iconic local advertising sign that is as characteristically Moore’s Bar as its tin ceiling and neighborhood bar appeal.

Well, it almost happened recently, Greencastle Mayor Bill Dory told the Redevelopment Commission during its recent monthly meeting at City Hall.

The conspicuous red Moore’s Bar sign that has been hanging brightly above the main entry to the 17 S. Indiana St. bar and grill for decades reportedly nearly came tumbling down, despite repairs that had been made to it during the recent Stellar grant facade project in recent years, the mayor said.

Apparently during one of the recent windstorms so prevalent this winter, one of the brackets anchoring the sign to the facade suffered metal fatigue, resulting in the bracket cracking. The bracket failed and a piece of metal reportedly fell to the sidewalk.

It was during approval of a monthly claim docket of $52,420 that Mayor Dory explained what brought about a $1,901.01 claim for repairs to the Moore’s Bar sign in accordance with the Stellar project.

“The Fire Department was able to rescue the sign before there was any more damage,” Dory said, “or more importantly, before anybody got hurt.”

When the situation was discovered, the Fire Department was notified and firefighters ran over from a block away, attempting to secure the sign with a rope, the mayor said.

However, he quickly suggested something more permanent was necessary, urging firefighters to get the aerial truck to better secure the sign by strapping it to the bottom of the aerial truck bucket.

“It doesn’t weigh that much,” Dory said, “but it was just too awkward for two individuals on ladders.”

The iconic sign was removed, repaired and has been reinstalled, again beckoning hungry and thirsty residents with its red neon glow, while providing one of the better claim docket back stories ever.

The Redevelopment Commission unanimously approved the monthly claims as presented, included among them the latest Moore’s sign repair.

In other business, the commission:

-- Heard Mayor Dory report that he met recently with Ryan Penrod, the new Wabash Valley YMCA director, who has succeeded Deb Ringo in that capacity. Dory said he had a chance to go over notes with Penrod on the City of Greencastle’s proposed community center project that would be operated by the YMCA group.

“It turns out the ‘Y’ he was with (previously) was in Scottsburg, which is similar in size to what we’re proposing,” Dory said, “except they have a pool and we won’t.”

The community center project is reportedly awaiting final purchase offer approval by the current landowners on an undisclosed piece of local property.

-- Approved a bid from McCullough Excavating of Bainbridge as the lowest of three submissions on a contract for tree removal along the proposed new People Pathways route along State Road 240. The contract is for $5,100 and work will commence soon, the mayor said, because of the Indiana bat.

“The Indiana bat is an endangered species,” he explained, “and they don’t want them nesting in trees that are about to be taken down.”

Thus in order for the work on the pathway to take place this spring, any trees that need to be removed must be taken out by mid-April.

-- Gave formal permission for industrial lots on Redevelopment Commission-controlled land to be advertised for sale now that appraisals are complete.

The mayor said there will be a period of time in which city officials cannot accept a price lower than advertised. However, after that period, a negotiation of the price can occur.

The lots involved include those along Ballard Lane and the lot adjacent to the so-called shell building occupied by Dixie Chopper, west of Fillmore Road.

Voting members Erika Gilmore (president), Lottie Barcus, Gary Lemon, Gwen Morris and Drew Brattain joined the mayor and new City Planner Scott Zimmerman for the recent brief meeting at City Hall. It was preceded by an executive session to discuss the purchase or lease of real property.

The Redevelopment Commission will not meet as scheduled on March 28 due to spring break. It is uncertain at present whether the commission will instead meet March 21 or April 4.