Council hears from downtown business owners

Downtown issues were the primary focus of the regular meeting of the Willow Springs Board of Aldermen Thursday. Two downtown business owners were on the agenda to voice concerns. 

First, Christy Graves, co-owner of Vintage Floral and a founding board member of Main Street Willow Springs, LLC, spoke about downtown beautification. According to their website, MSWS’s mission is, “to restore and revitalize the historic downtown district…to generate economic prosperity centralized around small business.”

A public hearing on the subject of the condition of 104 E. Main took place before the open session. MSWS has owned this building since October 2020. For more on this building, see the front page.

Referring to the hearing, Graves began, “We’re being held accountable for this building, and I understand why, but what is the city doing to be held accountable for downtown? ... Tell me what the city is doing for economic development downtown.”

Graves had concerns about the impact of empty downtown storefronts, the lack of a welcome sign at the highway junctions, and the financial contribution the city makes to other Willow Springs organizations. 

“What is being financially put into our downtown?” Graves asked. “We’ve been on Main Street now for four years. Nothing looks any different since I’ve been there… It’s aggravating to me that the Chamber gets $1,200 a year, and the library gets $39,000 a year, the YMCA gets $15,000 and $1,200 for soccer, but we’re not getting anything,” Graves said. 

City Administrator Beverly Hicks answered, “You have never approached me about this kind of support… Is there a promise that has not been fulfilled by the city?”

Mayor Brooke Fair pointed out the empty downtown buildings are privately owned, and none except 104 E. Main, are currently under the authority of the city. Alderwoman Kim Rich mentioned a recently created database of all commercial properties available for sale or lease. Mayor Fair also explained that efforts have been underway for years to create a welcome sign, but so far, the cost has been prohibitively expensive.

Moving on to the next agenda item, Anna and Shane Mayberry, owners of H&M Ranch Store, voiced concerns about the aldermen’s October vote to remove eight parking spaces from the four-way stop at Main and Harris. As previously reported by Howell County News, the aldermen voted unanimously to remove two spots from each downtown corner because of high numbers of collisions and traffic congestion. 

The aldermen made this decision last fall without consulting with downtown business owners but have not yet removed the spaces.

“If you take away those parking spots, you’re taking away from our business,” Shane Mayberry explained. “Losing that parking spot will take away a lot from our business. I would like for you to reconsider.”

City Administrator Hicks said the street department has not been able to find the best solution for changing the parking spaces, which is why nothing has yet changed. After general discussion about possible solutions like signage or resizing the spaces, Hicks promised, “We’re not going to do anything until you know about it.”

In new business, members of the Willow Springs Fire Department were present to give a demonstration of their newly acquired air packs. WSFD purchased five new units with $50,000 in ARPA funds dispersed by the Howell County Commission.

Fire Chief Vance Farmer commented that new models have “more functionality for modern firefighting.” Chief Farmer plans to seek grant funding to continue to replace his department’s air packs in phases. 

In other action:

-The aldermen unanimously voted to accept the low bid of $181,461 from Altec for a bucket truck for the electric department. The 2023 budget included $20,000 for a down payment on a truck, and the balance will be paid from city reserves. 

-The aldermen unanimously passed ordinance 1590, which amends the prohibition of consuming intoxicating substances in city parks and properties to include recreational marijuana. 

-The date of the April regular meeting was changed to Tuesday, April 18 at 5:30 p.m.