Commission approves temporary Main Street closure for 20th-anniversary consignment celebration

The Chanute City Commission on June 22 approved a request to temporarily close portions of Main Street from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 11 so a downtown consignment retailer can hold a 20-year anniversary celebration with vendors and food trucks.

The request (presented via the agenda as submitted by Amy Sehorn, owner of the consignment business) asked to close the north side of Main Street from Lincoln to the east valley and the south side from Lincoln to the east side of the store, allow no-parking signs the night before, provide city barricades and limited electrical hookups for vendors. The commission approved the street closure and the applicant confirmed she had spoken with nearby businesses including Cardinal Drug and Talk of the Town, which she said were supportive. "I did talk to the other local businesses on Main Street that it's gonna be blocking... they're fine with it," the event organizer said during the meeting.

City Manager Todd Newman told the commission the parks and community-development staff would coordinate permitting, trash cans and table scheduling and ensure vendors obtain the required city licenses. "City has no issues on our... kind of celebration," Newman said during the discussion. The commission approved the motion to permit the closure and event, with standard conditions that vendors carry required licenses and coordinate with parks staff for utilities and support.