Owners of Timbertown Grub blame code enforcement for closure; council offers follow-up meeting

Lynn Peterson, who identified herself as the owner of Timbertown Grub, told the council she was "very disappointed in how I have been treated as a business owner" and said recent enforcement and communications by city staff contributed to the decision to close the business.

Tom Thompson, the co‑owner, described repeated attempts to get guidance from city management and said they received unhelpful or curt emails. "She was very unhelpful," Thompson said of the city manager, adding that the experience caused the owners anxiety and ultimately led to their closing.

Mayor Drinkwine and other council members responded at length. The mayor said he had bought food from the business and that he did not intend the council's actions to be punitive. "I do care about every business in this city," the mayor said, noting earlier conversations with staff and offering to meet with the owners offline.

Several council members and residents who spoke in the public-comment period urged calmer communication and better processes for notifying business owners of code issues. Councilor Jim (first referenced during the meeting) noted that emails and public discussion can be misread and recommended a direct follow-up meeting to review the record and next steps.

Council staff offered to schedule a meeting with the owners and the city manager to walk through the enforcement history and to discuss whether outreach or procedural changes are warranted. The council did not take formal action on code enforcement at the meeting; the only immediate outcome was the commitment to a follow-up meeting between owners and staff.

The exchange highlighted a recurring theme at the meeting: residents seeking clearer, earlier notification about regulatory or land-use actions that affect private businesses and property owners. The council asked staff to arrange the follow-up meeting and to report back if any procedural changes are necessary.