Anyone hear about how the town of Beverly is trying to run a small business man out of business? It seems that where there has been a garage for more than 50 years, Beverly now wants it to go under. They have hired a lawyer to try and force rules on Brad Reed that would put him under. He does mechanic work, hauls top soil, and sells southern truck beds, along with beer, soda, chips and so on. He has several customers that owe him money and there vehicles are on his property until the bill or at least 1/2 of the bill is paid. Now the town says if the cars aren't licensed and insured they have to be moved after ten days. So how does he collect his money if the vehicles are taken away? They say he can't sell truck beds from this location, because you are not allowed to run a scrap yard in town. Scrap means things that are going to be melted down and used for other products. Selling salvaged parts is not scrap. Brad owns a dozer, farm tractor, and a backhoe, they say he can't park these at his house or his station. They say he can't park his small dump truck at either place either. His dump has license, insurance, and an up to date inspection, so why can't he park it anywhere in town? Its legal! I can drive thru town on the main road and count at least 20 vehicles that have been sitting for 5 to 20 years with no license or insurance, and in sight of the main road. These are on private property, which is to say residential. Brads is and has for many years been a business based on fixing and repairing cars, this is how he makes his living, and how everyone who has ever owned this station has made theirs. He doesn't sell gas anymore because the price went so high he was going in the hole doing it, know one gets rich or makes a living pumping gas. All gas stations have other means of income to make it work, most sell beer, groceries, lottery, and hotdogs, others still do mechanic work. The bottom line is gas doesn't pay the bills. So by putting these new and improved rules in the town ordinace they are effectively running the only garage in Beverly out of business. Now I know Brad personaly and so I know that he has tried to work this out for more than 2 years with the city. He wanted to put up a privacy fence in his back lot to both keep customers cars safe, and to keep them out of site from the nieghbors. They won't approve his fence, because it blocks off someones view. Could this be the view from town hall located directly behind his station? I wonder if the town knows that his property goes nearly to the center of that same street? If he were to take it to court and get approved for a fence he could block nearly half the street that the town values so much. Then I would like to see the delivery trucks get into the narrow 15' wide street. that is what it calls for is a 15' dirt alley. Ofcorse the town some years ago paved it and started using the then Ashland stations already paved lot as part of the street. But under the law they cannot take that extra land without just compensation, which was never given. I wrote all this to see who would read it thru and agree with or decide against the rights of a small business man. What say you?

Last edited by hillbilly469 on Sun Feb 17, 2008 6:58 pm; edited 1 time in total

Sounds to me like the town could be after his property since it's adjoining city hall. But from your story, it does indeed sound like they are trying to run him out of business or at least badger him endlessly. What exactly is the cities problem with his business? I'm not familiar with it. Could it be cleaned up a bit? Maybe creatively storing the truckbeds in a more appealing manner? As for the cars he's holding, I think the fence solution sounds good, provided the fencing material isn't an eyesore itself. Many garages aren't exactly attractive by nature. Perhaps he could make small changes make it more eye-friendly? Just a thought. Everything is about appearances these days. And you know Elkins answer to everything is to planters with flowers!

Does he have an attorney? He needs to have a professional look at city and state laws for him and deal with the city on his behalf. I really hope it works out for your friend. It's hard enough to maintain a small business today without added badgering and stress like this.
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Don't believe everything you think.

He had gotten a bid for an 8' high chainlink privacy fence that comes in a few different colors, but as of yet the council hasn't approved it. I personaly think it would be best for all involved to have the fence. He has gotten the place cleaned up and organized pretty good though I have told him he still needs to do more to make his business more appealing to potential customers.