29th Street Merchants Accuse City Of Nuisance-Making Construction Methods - Demand compensation to win back customers

Kate Bouey 12/13/2010 105.7 SUNFM

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Merchants who's businesses sit on 29th Street jammed Vernon city council chambers Monday night, angry over sewer and road construction work they say has led to lost revenue and customer traffic. Spokesperson Lou Rosner, a longtime customer of the street, told council that water lines had been turned off without notice and customers had been lost due to incorrect signage and lengthy delays. Rosner said the average loss in revenues was almost 50 percent and 15 employees had been laid off, with more expected to go by the end of the month. ``The nuisance-making destruction they have had to face is intolerable so they are asking the City for relief,'' Rosner said later.  The merchants are asking for a pass on two years of property taxes plus 100-thousand dollars to market their businesses and win back custom. `Major street construction is a big hit on your business,'' admitted Mayor Wayne Lippert following the council meeting. He expressed some sympathy for the merchants but said that the aging infrastructure had to be replaced. ``Those same businesses or some of them complained about the condition of the street beforehand and about some of those low spots, so it's Catch 22,'' Lippert added. A report is expected from staff. Lippert said the matter could end up in the hands of the insurers.
Ironically, council has approved 2.3-million dollars for phase two work on 29th Street in 2011.