Dated: 12/06/04 – 6:36 pm
Subject: Beautification At
Work
December 5,
2004
As I
exited the 'Home Depot' store this evening, (it gets dark so early now), I
noticed a gentleman hooking up the trailer kitchen/hot dog stand to his
pickup truck. At an earlier visit to HD an hour before, I had purchased a
bratwurst hot dog for my wife who loves the things. I have bought several
of the delicacies over the last several visits and have found them to be fresh,
hot and delicious. Those who served me were courteous and accommodating
and I observed a clean environment where the food was served. But, I
digress. As the gentleman hooked up the trailer hitch to his pickup and
got into the cab, I asked, “Taking away my hot dogs?"
He
nodded, and answered, "Yes, sir!"
Without even thinking about what to say next, I asked, "City?"
He
looked me straight in the eye and said, "Yeah, how did you know?"
I
simply shook my head slowly and walked away, knowing not to inquire about
specifics. I was mad enough already. Another small business bit the
dust in NRH. Nothing new.
I
live two blocks from a closed Winn Dixie. Two miles from a closed, brand
new Eckerds, a mile from a closed convenience store gas station which has been on the same corner for over 26 years.
All up and down and all over our town of
The sign ordinance is so screwball
it took several city staff members and some council members to help explain it,
further muddying the unclear picture. Finally the mayor mercifully cut
off the discussion, showing how even he knew they were getting
nowhere.
When
Golden Corral asked for a permit to install a pole sign
to help their business, the city council gave them the cold shoulder,
refusing a permit because they said it could not be seen from the
freeway. Well, I can see the closed "Best Buy" from the
freeway, I can see the closed "Big Boys" from the freeway, and I can
see the closed "North Hills Mall" from the freeway. Why not a
sign to help Golden Corral? Beautification? Bull corn!
I'm
ready to see someone stand up to the council and say, no more. Become
user friendly or get ready to move on. Where is the backbone on the city
staff? Surely they can see the fallacy of the restrictive business
climate.
And
don't get me started about the cheesy "NRH established 1956 signs". What a waste of taxpayers taxes. Does
any sane person think people care when NRH started? Unbelievable!
Tom Pollard
NRH