[JAN. 14, 2006]
A local business owner and property owner, Mark
Gates, came before the Lincoln City Council this week saying that he
was there asking for direction. Gates said that he has had an
ongoing problem that has cost him $700 in fines, summons fees and
court costs for parking on city property, a 60-foot right of way
leading to his property.
Gates owns property just off Ophir Street in back of Mr. Moody's
Storage sheds on North Kickapoo Street. It is near the concrete
plant.
Ophir Street, which is more like an alley, leads to his property.
He says he's paying $35 per month for lighting on poles that he had
Cilco install in the area, and he's spent $2,000 on gravel for the
road, though it remains mostly mud.
Gates does not have a date set, but he says that he plans to put
a building on his property, and then he'll need sewer and a better
road to get to the property.
He suggested that maybe the city could grant him a lease on the
right of way property and he would put a fence up.
Bates said that Gates has more stuff than he can get on his
property. It does not have room for him to park his vehicles. He
suggested that Gates clean up some of his property and clear the
right of way of any inoperable vehicles.
Gates said that he has not been able to get Gordon McCann to
remove his vehicle from his property. "You know what it's like to
deal with him," he said. He said he offered the space to McCann for
a few weeks, "and it's turned into a few years." He said that McCann
has threatened to sue him if he has the vehicle removed.
A brown car that does not run, owned by Daris Knauer, is on the
right of way. Gates said he has asked Knauer to remove that car. The
dump trucks, Ford pickup and Lincoln Town Car all run, Gates said.
Gates said that he is now forced to park his vehicles on Kickapoo
Street. He has semis and dump trucks. The trucks are creating a
traffic hazard when they are parked out on the street.
Bates recommended that Gates get his property cleaned up and
start parking his trucks there, "because the next thing that is
going to happen is that the council is going to pass a ‘no parking'
on North Kickapoo Street."
Bates, Mayor Beth Davis and the council thanked Gates for coming
to discuss the matter.
