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Downtown businesses deliver petition urging tax relief and better signage during extended road construction
Summary
A downtown business owner presented a petition asking the Dexter City Council for property tax relief and better construction communication, saying closures and blocked entrances from a 2026 road project have sharply reduced customers. Council and staff said signage was recently placed and pledged further outreach.
Mina, who identified herself as "Mina from Dra America," told the Dexter City Council that downtown merchants are suffering from the spring–summer 2026 road projects and submitted a petition asking the city for property tax relief.
"This petition is made by the businesses of the city of Dexter listed and signed below," Mina read from the petition, adding that "beginning May 4th, 2026, the downtown businesses have experienced a tremendous loss of customers as a direct result of the construction and closure of the Island Lake and Dexter Chelsea roads leading into town." She described blocked entrances, disrupted lawn areas and a lack of advance notice to businesses about closures.
The petition requested "an immediate reduction of city Dexter property taxes" to help offset losses incurred while construction continues through September 2026, according to the text Mina submitted. She also asked the council to allow at least one lane open where feasible, to coordinate clearer signage reading "businesses open during construction," and to consider logistical relief such as permitted food‑truck arrangements to boost foot traffic.
Council members and staff responded that the road projects are managed by multiple agencies and that coordination has been challenging. Staff said two changeable message signs were placed recently and that pedestrian signage and additional messaging were due to be installed; they also encouraged business owners to use the city’s existing communication channels and noted there are state and county assistance programs staff could research for affected businesses.
Mayor and councilors did not commit to a tax‑relief measure that night. They asked staff to follow up with the petitioners and to share the food‑truck waiver information and other resources that had helped businesses in the past.
The council did not take formal action on the petition during the meeting; staff agreed to return with more information on outreach, signage placement and potential funding or waiver options.
