Last night’s Town Hall

Last night, a “Town Hall” meeting on the Roundabout and Street LID construction projects was held at the Convention Center (NBCTV was there taping, so look for it on Channel 68). Mayor Dean Bunkers and Ken Lanfear, director of Public Works, sat at the front of the room and fielded questions from the 40 representatives of businesses and citizens in attendance. Leslie Reedy, director of the local Chamber of Commerce, began the Town Hall by saying “I called this because I was bombarded with calls.” She cited some of the biggest frustrations she is hearing:  “a lack of communication, and that the average that everyone is down (in sales) is 30 percent. And a lack of real visible signage that directs people.”

“I understand some of the frustrations and aggravations,” Mayor Bunkers responded. “But if we didn’t get this done this year and had to drag into next year the pain would be much worse.”

After what appeared to be initial reluctance, business people eventually shared their issues. Representatives alike from big businesses like the IGA and McDonald’s and small shops such as First Cabin and Sand Castle Drive In (owner Dave Creighton, who as a city councilman you might think would be informed), made similar complaints about a lack of coordination, communication of water outages and advance notice of paving that blocks business access.

Regarding communications: “I’m the guy who needs to take a hit,” said Lanfear. “I have to apologize if there’s been coordination problems out there, they have to fall back on me.”

He said the Street LID could be done by Oct. 23. “The Roundabout completion was (originally) mid November. We’re still tracking pretty well.”

More in next week’s North Coast News.