(May 4, 2017) The tension between the Adkins Company building supply store and the Town of Berlin isn’t going anywhere just yet.
The evidence is a large roadblock on Harrison Avenue put up last June by Adkins, which owns part of the road, and the fact that both sides remain far apart on a dollar amount that would resolve the dispute. Adkins officials want $400,000 for its section of the road and town officials have offered $60,000, both figures apparently based on separate appraisals.
Adkins General Manager Rick Holland brought the issue to a town work session Monday night, asking if the town’s plan to close Baker Street was a jab at Adkins.
When residents of Baker Street complained of its poor condition there and asked that it be addressed with sensitivity to its historic – the only one remaining paved with oyster shells – the town responded by escalating plans to do that and to limit through traffic to minimize further damage on the roadway.
The town is expected to introduce an ordinance that would redefine the term “truck” in town code to be any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 10,000 pounds, or five tons, during a Town Council meeting on Monday, May 8.
A resolution prohibiting truck traffic on Baker Street will have a first reading on May 8 and a public hearing on May 22.
Would the ban, Holland wondered, apply to the Adkins Company, which is on the adjacent roadway on Harrison Avenue?
Holland said he had read that Berlin Farm Supply, on Broad Street parallel to Baker Street, was told they could use the street.
Mayor Gee Williams said the truck ban was not based on the business, but on the size of the vehicle.
“The business itself of Berlin Farm Supply and the Adkins Company is based on Baker Street and if you try to restrict trucks you’re restricting our business,” Holland said. “Is that what you’re trying to do?”
“What we’re trying to do is keep that roadway from deteriorating any faster than it already is because we’re going to be making a substantial investment into [repairing the street],” Williams said. “The people that live on Baker Street consider that a residential street – not the primary commercial boulevard for either of those two businesses.
“I think most people consider Harrison Avenue the primary commercial corridor for motor vehicles for both those businesses,” Williams added.
“You understand our position that we are a business in Berlin and the only … road we have in and out of Berlin, platted in 1876, is Baker Street,” Holland said. “If you restrict that to truck traffic and it doesn’t include our trucks in and out – plus our customers’ truck’s – then you’re going to block our business.”
Williams said he agreed – to a point.
“You’re also blocking yourself,” he said.
Williams said the issue between the town and the Adkins Company had been going on for decades.
“Everybody has the intent that we’d like to make this a public street with proper reimbursement,” Williams said. “We also want to protect that historic street.”
Holland argued the town had not “gotten really interested in looking at Harrison Avenue and solving a problem.”
“The door has always been open,” Williams said.
It is, Holland said, but the town proposal had not included “any damages to our property.”
“We never cut the conversation off,” Williams said. “That’s what I can’t understand. My God, we’ve known each other since [we were] kids.”
Councilman Dean Burrell said the work session was not the proper forum to discuss the matter. He asked Holland to attend the public hearing, May 8.
Holland again asked if the Adkins Company and Berlin Farm Supply would be restricted from Baked Street.
“It does apply to everyone,” Williams said. “It’s not aimed at those two businesses, but it does apply to all trucks.
“All we have to do is sit down and talk like we’re regular old folks,” Williams continued. “We do not go to court every time we have a negotiation.”
Holland said the sides were “too far apart.”
“No!” Williams said. “You’re not even trying to come to an [agreement]. I don’t understand it. I don’t understand why you’re saying it’s too far apart. How much do you know? You haven’t even asked.
“We’re not unreasonable people,” Williams continued. “You just don’t go to court [every time there’s an issue]. That’s not how we do business. We’re in a small town and we all live together and we have always tried to support everybody.”
The evidence is a large roadblock on Harrison Avenue put up last June by Adkins, which owns part of the road, and the fact that both sides remain far apart on a dollar amount that would resolve the dispute. Adkins officials want $400,000 for its section of the road and town officials have offered $60,000, both figures apparently based on separate appraisals.
Adkins General Manager Rick Holland brought the issue to a town work session Monday night, asking if the town’s plan to close Baker Street was a jab at Adkins.
When residents of Baker Street complained of its poor condition there and asked that it be addressed with sensitivity to its historic – the only one remaining paved with oyster shells – the town responded by escalating plans to do that and to limit through traffic to minimize further damage on the roadway.
The town is expected to introduce an ordinance that would redefine the term “truck” in town code to be any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 10,000 pounds, or five tons, during a Town Council meeting on Monday, May 8.
A resolution prohibiting truck traffic on Baker Street will have a first reading on May 8 and a public hearing on May 22.
Would the ban, Holland wondered, apply to the Adkins Company, which is on the adjacent roadway on Harrison Avenue?
Holland said he had read that Berlin Farm Supply, on Broad Street parallel to Baker Street, was told they could use the street.
Mayor Gee Williams said the truck ban was not based on the business, but on the size of the vehicle.
“The business itself of Berlin Farm Supply and the Adkins Company is based on Baker Street and if you try to restrict trucks you’re restricting our business,” Holland said. “Is that what you’re trying to do?”
“What we’re trying to do is keep that roadway from deteriorating any faster than it already is because we’re going to be making a substantial investment into [repairing the street],” Williams said. “The people that live on Baker Street consider that a residential street – not the primary commercial boulevard for either of those two businesses.
“I think most people consider Harrison Avenue the primary commercial corridor for motor vehicles for both those businesses,” Williams added.
“You understand our position that we are a business in Berlin and the only … road we have in and out of Berlin, platted in 1876, is Baker Street,” Holland said. “If you restrict that to truck traffic and it doesn’t include our trucks in and out – plus our customers’ truck’s – then you’re going to block our business.”
Williams said he agreed – to a point.
“You’re also blocking yourself,” he said.
Williams said the issue between the town and the Adkins Company had been going on for decades.
“Everybody has the intent that we’d like to make this a public street with proper reimbursement,” Williams said. “We also want to protect that historic street.”
Holland argued the town had not “gotten really interested in looking at Harrison Avenue and solving a problem.”
“The door has always been open,” Williams said.
It is, Holland said, but the town proposal had not included “any damages to our property.”
“We never cut the conversation off,” Williams said. “That’s what I can’t understand. My God, we’ve known each other since [we were] kids.”
Councilman Dean Burrell said the work session was not the proper forum to discuss the matter. He asked Holland to attend the public hearing, May 8.
Holland again asked if the Adkins Company and Berlin Farm Supply would be restricted from Baked Street.
“It does apply to everyone,” Williams said. “It’s not aimed at those two businesses, but it does apply to all trucks.
“All we have to do is sit down and talk like we’re regular old folks,” Williams continued. “We do not go to court every time we have a negotiation.”
Holland said the sides were “too far apart.”
“No!” Williams said. “You’re not even trying to come to an [agreement]. I don’t understand it. I don’t understand why you’re saying it’s too far apart. How much do you know? You haven’t even asked.
“We’re not unreasonable people,” Williams continued. “You just don’t go to court [every time there’s an issue]. That’s not how we do business. We’re in a small town and we all live together and we have always tried to support everybody.”