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Chester Beautification Commission discusses Farmer's Market

Posted July 28, 2014 11:00 pm

CHESTER -- The Farmer's Market may be in danger of leaving Chester.

Chester Beautification Commission member Dave Eggemeyer, who represents the Farmer's Market, told the commission during its regular meeting on Monday that vendors have have expressed interest in moving out of the city.

"We're talking about losing more vendors," Eggemeyer said. "We were having good sales at Hardee's and then we got the phone call to go back to the (Chester) Gazebo (Park)."

The Farmer's Market, which will get a $1,300 portion of the commission's budget this fiscal year, was displaced from its location at the three-way stop of Opdyke and State streets due to the demolition of the old Texaco station that occupied that corner.

The station was demolished July 15 and 16 to make room for a new right turn lane for tractor-trailer traffic.

Chester Mayor Tom Page previously told the Herald Tribune the Farmer's Market would be moving to the gazebo after the building was demolished.

Reportedly poor sales at that location led to a move to the parking lot of the Hardee's/Red Burrito restaurant, located at 217 W. Holmes St., two weeks ago.

Upon moving back to the gazebo for its July 26 session, Eggemeyer said business was slow again.

"I appreciate all of Dave's work and that of the Farmer's Market," said Chester City Council alderwoman Nancy Crossland, who is the liaison between the commission and the council. "We are a city-sanctioned group and what better place than a city park?"

Crossland said the city has safety concerns and liability issues with allowing the Farmer's Market to use the restaurant parking lot, as it is not city property.

She also said she is not opposed to alternate locations other than the gazebo or revisiting the parking lot issue at a later time.

"I would hate for you guys to go somewhere else in another city, but I've had people tell me they like the gazebo," Crossland said.

The commission members discussed the possibility of closing the entry lane to the alley that is located adjacent to the restaurant for the purposes of the Farmer's Market.

"I am here to help you, I'm not here to harm you," Crossland said. "I would appreciate any input you would want to give."

In other commission news, its budget for Fiscal Year 2015 - which began July 1 - was announced by member Tom Sauer. The total budget for fiscal year 2015 is $18,900.

The commission, which gets a slice of the city's hotel/motel tax revenue, has budgeted $6,000 for Christmas decorations this year.

An additional $4,500 was set aside for Take Pride and landscaping costs, with $1,500 each for lamp post flags, gazebo flags and an anti-litter project.

Commission member Cathy Sauer also gave an update on the Take Pride awards, which seek to reward city residents who have the most beautiful yards.

"We've had several nominations this month," Sauer said. "Ordinarily, you don't hear things that often, but we've been getting nominations."

The commission also took action on a bid for Coolie cups, which keep canned beverages cool. It tentatively agreed to accept a $260 bid from Totally Koozies for 1,000 of the product.

"I think we agreed last month that 500 wouldn't be enough, we needed 1,000," Crossland said.

The next scheduled meeting of the Chester Beautification Commission is Aug. 25.

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