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Village retailers ask Lake Elmo council for advance notice, weekly updates on construction
Summary
Local retailers and restaurants told the Lake Elmo City Council they are losing customers during road and streetscape projects and asked the city for six months' notice, contractor weekly updates and better signage to help businesses plan and avoid revenue losses.
Thomas Raycamp, who said he and his wife own La Vieille Bell gift stores and was speaking for other village retailers, told the council construction projects have cut drive-by traffic and left some businesses "down an average of 30% and greater year over year sales for last month." He asked the city to provide earlier notice of large projects such as work on Stillwater Boulevard, to run weekly construction e-mail updates for landlords and businesses, and to improve signage so motorists know local shops remain open.
"We need proactive partnership and advocacy ahead of any projects or activities that could impact businesses," Raycamp said, requesting a city point person or business advocate to coordinate with contractors and landlords. City council members acknowledged the complaint and thanked the speakers; staff said the city already uses outreach tools and indicated it would consider ways to increase advance communication to businesses. No formal action was taken; the public comment was recorded for follow-up by staff.
