Make wishtv.com your home page

Greenwood council joins fight against Circle K alcohol permit

GREENWOOD, Ind. (WISH) — The Greenwood City Council has joined the fight against an alcohol permit for a new Circle K on the city’s southeast side.

The members agreed Monday with many residents who live near the gas station at Worthsville Road and Sheek Road: The business should not be able to sell alcohol.

The Circle K currently has a pending alcohol permit application in Johnson County.

The council unanimously passed a resolution in support of the residents who live near the gas station.

The Circle K sits across the street from Clark Pleasant Intermediate School.

“Because of the close proximity of schools and other churches there, we just feel like it’s a bad idea,” Greenwood Christian Church Minister Shan Rutherford said.

“This is about safety; we have a school less than 500 feet wall-to-wall from that Circle K gas station and a church that’s the same distance,” Greenwood Resident Randy Goodin said.

Goodin lives next to the gas station.

He believes it should not sell alcohol because it’s in a residential area with kids so close by.

“All I need is one person to come through there, buy a little top off to his buzz and then drive through a crowd of children,” he said.

He is thankful the Greenwood City Council is supporting efforts of residents who are asking the county to deny the alcohol permit.

“We’re trying to reach out and listen to the people and show them we are listening and we show support,” Greenwood City Council Member for district two, Ezra Hill, said.

One of the arguments for the permit is that it’s standard for gas stations to sell alcohol to stay in business. Hill takes issue with the status quo.

“I think it is standard, but I really think they could still have a successful business without alcohol sales,” he said.

All the council members supported the resolution Monday night.

While only three community members spoke at the council meeting, Goodin said he’s representing many of his neighbors, as well.

“We have close to 1,000 signatures on the petition standing against Circle K obtaining this permit to sell alcohol at that particular location,” Goodin said.

The Johnson County Alcohol Beverage Commission is scheduled to vote on that permit request on Feb. 8.

Due to the holiday, Circle K, which owns the gas station, did not respond to a request for comment from 24-Hour News 8.

The company did not have a representative at the city council meeting.