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Fair City businesses urge Huron officials to address road closures, dust and communication around DOT project
Summary
Small-business owners in the Fair City addition told the Huron City Commission that a state road project has disrupted customer access, caused dust and equipment damage, and been accompanied by poor communication. Commissioners agreed to seek a DOT progress update and follow up with the business owner.
At a Huron City Commission public forum, resident and Fair City business owner Jennifer E. Hofer read a letter asking city leaders, the Greater Huron Development Corporation and the Huron Chamber of Commerce for clearer communication and mitigation during a state-led infrastructure project affecting the Fair City addition.
Hofer said the work has disrupted operations for family-owned businesses, produced dust and access limitations and led to equipment damage. “Jay and his family has lost 3 compressors on their cooling units. Nothing has been done for us,” she said. “We want to stay open. We want to contribute. But we cannot do it alone.”
The commission’s assistant engineer, Dennis Bennett, confirmed there is a weekly progress meeting with the state Department of Transportation and said the city receives meeting minutes. “We have progress meeting at DOT tomorrow, but we’re paving, so I don’t know if I’m gonna get there. And that’s gonna be a DOT scheduling. I would have to talk to them,” Bennett said.
Commissioners discussed several immediate mitigation proposals Hofer raised, including temporary surfacing to preserve customer access and reduce dust. Commissioners and staff expressed concern that placing gravel or crushed concrete on private property might encourage drivers to use a nonpublic thoroughfare and could create other problems. Commissioner discussion noted the project had been described as a two-week closure at announcement but had extended beyond that window.
Mayor Robich told Hofer the city would seek more information and follow up. “If you or someone, whoever goes there, could get back with me on that, and I will visit with Miss Hofer again and see if she has a preference and make no promises. How’s that? Okay,” the mayor said. Later he added, “I’ll do that. I’ll take care of that. Just ask for a summary.”
Commissioners asked that a city representative attend the DOT progress meeting to get the latest timeline and report back. The commission did not commit to a specific mitigation action at the meeting but agreed to follow up with Hofer after obtaining the DOT update.
Background and local impact: Commissioners and speakers described limited detour options in the area because of the street layout and a railroad crossing, which has increased pressure on nearby private drives. Speakers named local landmarks affected by access changes, including Fair City grocery, Jensen Feed, Carlson’s and Napa. Hofer said some vehicles were being routed through private property and reported multiple police drives through her lot during the outage.
The discussion continued into the regular agenda; commissioners later approved multiple routine items and progress payments for infrastructure work during the same meeting.
The commission asked staff to report back after the DOT progress meeting and for staff to relay that information to the business owner so she can state a mitigation preference. No formal city mitigation or compensation was approved on the record during the public forum segment.
