Los Alamos Reporter

Councilors Hear From Business Owners At Apr. 3 Town Hall Meeting

IMG_0665 (1).jpgLos Alamos County Councilors, from left, Randy Ryti, Chair Sara Scott and David Izraelevitz hear from business owners Apr. 3 during a special town hall meeting. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

IMG_0666.jpgLos Alamos County employees and business owners gather at an Apr. 3 town hall meeting with County Councilors. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com

More than a dozen business owners attend a town hall meeting Apr. 3 hosted by Los Alamos County Council Chair Sara Scott and Councilor Randy Ryti. Councilor David Izraelevitz also participated. Councilor Antonio Maggiore was in the audience but did not participate because of quorum concerns.

The Councilors listened to concerns, observations and suggestions from the business owners including:

  • Concern that the closure of the visitors center for four months hurt businesses and was not a good decision
  • The need for stricter enforcement of business license requirements for people doing business in the County
  • The current condition of streets possibly due to the original paving job being “faulty”
  • The need to list licensed businesses on the County website
  • The need for mixed use redevelopment in the downtown area
  • The need for hardened paths to transit the community
  • Lack of adequate parking in the downtown area particularly if there is to be more mixed use
  • The need to connect retail areas with walking corridors and have pocket maps
  • The issue of big decaying buildings at the entrance to town
  • The lack of diversity in land owners
  • The stranglehold Kroeger has on the community
  • The need to merge apps on the County website

Councilor Pete Sheehey is slated to hold a townhall this evening, Wednesday, at 5:30 p.m. to discuss infrastructure needs. For the next two weeks, Council will be knee-deep in proposed budget presentations.

IMG_0669 (1).jpgLos Alamos County Council Sara Scott, far left, Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce Director Ryn Herrmann, center and County Economic Development Administrator Joanie Ahlers chat following the Apr. 3 town hall meeting for local business owners. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com