The Brashear House B&B

I was dreading this week’s Council meeting. I knew that we were going to revisit the issue of the Brashear House B&B, and it was not going to be pleasant.

Here is the background: In order to operate a business within a residential area, a person needs to apply for a “special use permit.” Ms. Platte applied for one in Nov 2000 to open the Brashear House Bed & Breakfast. This is a long process, with public hearings held by the Planning and Zoning Commission. In the end, after citizen input and careful consideration, the Commission at the time recommended – and the City Council granted – the permit, which included the stipulation that the driveway be paved within 5 years. She accepted it at that time and opened her business. 

I do need to note that this, in itself, was Ms. Platte’s first break. The Commission could have required her to hard-surface her parking area BEFORE it granted the permit. In fact, this is usually what happens. Instead, they gave her 5 years to do this.

She did not pave her driveway within 5 years. The Council could have rescinded her permit at that time, but they did not. Instead, city officials then met with her to try to help her out. They reduced the amount she had to pave and gave her another year to pave ONLY 25% of this new amount. She did not.

The Council could have rescinded her permit at that time, but they did not. Instead, city officials (Mari Macomber and Brad Selby) met with her again. Through creative interpretation, they reduced the amount she had to pave even more, then gave her another month to get 25% of this new amount paved. She did not.

Mari Macomber even offered to look into a low-interest loan of taxpayer money to help her. We’re talking around 1.5%. Again, she was not interested. City officials bent over backwards to accommodate Ms. Platte, but she refused to comply every time.

I absolutely hated to make this vote, but it was the only right thing to do. Nobody on the Council or in this town wants to see another business close. But I believe the Kirksville taxpayers expect us to be fair and hold people accountable to their contracts with the City – a.k.a. the Citizens – whether you are a business owner or not.

I believe you elected me to make the right decisions – not just the comfortable ones. This was a very uncomfortable decision for me. As I mentioned at Tuesday’s meeting, I lost sleep over this, knowing it was coming up. I prayed that Ms. Platte would do something – ANYTHING – to demonstrate she was trying to hold up her end of the deal. Unfortunately, to this date, not a single square inch of her area has been paved.

But not all is lost. She is free to apply for another special use permit. Maybe this time the Planning and Zoning Commission will see things differently and not require her to hard-surface her parking area. Or maybe she will finally do it and it won’t be an issue. In any case, I hope Ms. Platte will be able to reopen the Brashear House Bed & Breakfast soon.