By: Melanie Williamson
Tom Hug of Huggy’s Social House was at the meeting again to address the council regarding his parking issue. Hug stated he wanted to reiterate the need for parking on Park Drive. He went on to say he is doing everything he can, but they are a growing business and need all the parking spots they can get. Since the issue of parking first arose, Hug has made arrangements with Vermilion Power Boats and Romps for additional parking. He urged the council to make what he referred to as a “pro-business” response.
Next to address the council was Jeffry Smith on behalf of Tom Hug. He argued that the former Burley property was a commercial property that was moved to residential, which he stated makes is a private dispute. He firmly urged the city to step away and stay out of it allowing it to remain a private dispute.
Finally, Cindy Andrews representing the Vermilion Lagoons Association addressed the council. When the Burley property went up for sale, the association purchased it and then demolished the building to create a green space. She asserted that parking on Park Drive posed a safety issue. She went on to say that Mr. Hug has been able to arrange additional parking, and if he wanted the Burley property for parking, he could have bought it when it went up for sale.
Following each address, the council moved to the reading of ordinances, which included a third and final reading of Ordinance 2017-22, which if approved would have amended a current ordinance to allow for no parking signs to be put up on Park Drive in the area being disputed between the Vermilion Lagoons Association and Huggy’s Social House.
When Council president Steve Herron asked for a motion to present the ordinance, no one made a motion. For clarification, Herron asked Mayor Bulan what would happen to the ordinance if a motion was not made, and she responded that the ordinance would die. If the issue was presented again, a new ordinance would have to be prepared. Herron asked again for a motion to present the ordinance, and again none of the councilmembers responded. By making this move, the council essentially stepped away from the issue.
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I am responding to the article about the “Vermilion Lagoon Assoc”. To Cindy Andrews, representing the Assoc. There was already parking at the Burleys property that Huggy’s was able to use. When the Lagoon’s Assoc purchased that property they could have worked with Huggy’s and left that parking area. Beautification is nice, but keeping a good prospering business in Vermilion should be our priority!
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