|
Parking barricade placed at Taco Bell |
|
|
Thursday, 20 November 2008 |
 Barricades and a vehicle were placed in the driveway adjoining Taco Bell and other stores in the shopping center on North Michigan Street Wednesday. Pilot Photo/Carol Anders By Carol Anders Staff Writer PLYMOUTH — Barricades blocking off access to the shopping center on North Michigan Street from the Taco Bell parking lot will stay up — at least for now. Wednesday, Taco Bell Manager Marsha Humphrey placed the barriers between Taco Bell property and the adjoining property and parked her truck in front of them. Humphrey said, “I have contacted the city numerous times asking for a stop sign.” There used to be a stop sign at the corner, but reportedly a truck knocked it down several months ago and it was never replaced.
Humphrey said, “I mentioned the problem to Mayor Senter (Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter) at our grand opening for our new store and he said he would look into it.” Senter said he did not recall the conversation concerning the sign. He did respond quickly when he received telephone calls from police concerned about the barricades. However, Senter, City of Plymouth Attorney Nelson Chipman and Street Department Superinten-dent Jim Marquardt concurred that the city does not have any rights or responsibilities since the property is owned by Taco Bell. Marquardt said, “Stop signs cost between $70 to $80. It’s not the cost; it’s just not city property.” Humphrey said there was a “hand-shake agreement” between former Mayor Gary Cook and Taco Bell owners to keep the driveway open in exchange for a stop sign and street maintenance. Senter and Marquardt spoke directly with Humphrey concerning the matter. Humphrey then called the owner of Taco Bell, Eric Opperman, for further instructions. According to Humphrey, Opperman directed her to leave the barricades in place until an agreement for street maintenance could be reached. When the barricade was put up, Steve Eckert, who snow plows for the shopping center owned by the Fairfield Corporation out of Michigan, called for permission to erect a stop sign. After receiving the OK, Eckert placed a pole and sign at the corner that he planned to have placed in concrete. The matter would fall into the hands of the Public Works and Safety Board for the city to proceed with any type of agreement, according to Marquardt.
|
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 21 November 2008 )
|