May 22, 2019
MEC cooperates to allow Dollar General
BY JILL DENNING GACKLE
City officials offered the public a chance to give their two cents worth before Dollar General could build on the east edge of Garrison.
Although there weren’t any protests at Monday’s annexation hearing, a lot of mixed feelings were brought forth. The second reading of the annexation and approval of the zoning change is set for June 1. Without any protests at that meeting, Dollar General will get the green light to start building plans.
Councilman Dave Reinarts raised a few questions about the zoning change, the franchise agreement with utility providers and the impact on the Garrison Main Street businesses.
Zoning changes were made this spring, changes that Reinarts questioned whether they were right for Garrison.
Reinarts said, “I personally don’t know whether putting a Dollar General out there is a good thing for this community.” Later he added, “We have to keep the stores in Garrison open.”
Bruce Schreiner, a visitor at the meeting along with Kim Essler, Mike Gackle, Richard Lenherr and Mike Youngs, said the Chamber has been fighting big box stores from coming in for many years.
“We fought this for 30 years. We came to the conclusion that sooner or later it’s going to come. If we can control a little bit and do our job as Chamber businesses and continue to direct people downtown and help the people downtown, that’s a Chamber perspective. We really couldn’t come up with any arguments as to why to argue against it.”
Bernice Schlichting, owner along with husband George, of the land between McLean Electric and the cemetery, said she planned to continue to shop in town.
Although there weren’t any protests at Monday’s annexation hearing, a lot of mixed feelings were brought forth. The second reading of the annexation and approval of the zoning change is set for June 1. Without any protests at that meeting, Dollar General will get the green light to start building plans.
Councilman Dave Reinarts raised a few questions about the zoning change, the franchise agreement with utility providers and the impact on the Garrison Main Street businesses.
Zoning changes were made this spring, changes that Reinarts questioned whether they were right for Garrison.
Reinarts said, “I personally don’t know whether putting a Dollar General out there is a good thing for this community.” Later he added, “We have to keep the stores in Garrison open.”
Bruce Schreiner, a visitor at the meeting along with Kim Essler, Mike Gackle, Richard Lenherr and Mike Youngs, said the Chamber has been fighting big box stores from coming in for many years.
“We fought this for 30 years. We came to the conclusion that sooner or later it’s going to come. If we can control a little bit and do our job as Chamber businesses and continue to direct people downtown and help the people downtown, that’s a Chamber perspective. We really couldn’t come up with any arguments as to why to argue against it.”
Bernice Schlichting, owner along with husband George, of the land between McLean Electric and the cemetery, said she planned to continue to shop in town.
