Pawnshops not welcome in city

by Nicholas Backus
Contributing Writer
Published:
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:38 AM CST
SHOREVIEW — Pawnshops will continue to be discouraged from establishing in Shoreview thanks to a highly restrictive city ordinance passed unanimously Jan. 5 at City Hall.

The only possible location for a Shoreview pawnshop is Highway 694 and Lexington Avenue, according to the ordinance.

The location is due in part to a 1000-foot pawnshop buffer zone away from any residential district, public or private school, child day care center or religious place of worship.

A pawnshop also could not be located within 500 feet of another pawnshop, according to the ordinance.

“You can't ban (pawnshops) completely, but you can make rules so you won't have fly-by-night (establishments),” said Mayor Sandy Martin.

The Shoreview City Council had placed a year-long moratorium on pawnshops last January. That moratorium will be lifted Jan. 22 of this year.

The moratorium helped city officials define restrictions on the establishments. Included in those restrictions are a $3,000 annual license fee, a $1,000 investigation fee and a $10,000 annual bond.

“If someone is able to put up the fees, they might be more reputable,” Martin said.

Additionally, the sale of weapons, legal and illegal, would be prohibited.

“I'm worried about all weapons because I don't want to attract the kind of people who want to buy them into the community,” Martin said. “A goal is to put hardships on pawnbrokers by taking away one of their main ways to raise money.”

In other meeting news, the mayor gave her annual state of the city address. Notes from the address included:

• Keeping corporate headquarters of PaR Systems in Shoreview.

• The approval of a 104-unit senior housing unit to be built in 2009.

• Reinvestment by many residents on home roofs, windows and siding due to hail damage.

• The addition of a playground area in the community center to be installed in June.

• Continued road maintenance and a traffic signal at Hodgson Road and County Road J.

Martin maintained that Shoreview is in “excellent financial condition.” Property taxes on a median home value are $669, which is the fourth lowest of 29 similar suburban communities.

Council member Ben Withhart will be new acting mayor in case Martin is unable to serve. The council voted 4-1 to appoint Withhart, a position formerly held by member Blake Huffman.

Be sure you send her a letter stating that next time around you will work dilligently to see that she becomes EX-MAYOR MARTIN

I see that they are banning the sale of illegal weapons. That's pretty cutting edge there Shoreview. Coming next month, Banning the sale of illegal drugs.

I see that they are banning the sale of illegal weapons. That's pretty cutting edge there Shoreview. Coming next month, Banning the sale of illegal drugs.

I see that they are banning the sale of illegal weapons. That's pretty cutting edge there Shoreview. Coming next month, Banning the sale of illegal drugs.

Coloreds not welcome in city

by Nicholas Backus
Contributing Writer
Published:
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:38 AM CST
SHOREVIEW — Colored's businesses will continue to be discouraged from establishing in Shoreview thanks to a highly restrictive city ordinance passed unanimously Jan. 5 at City Hall.

The only possible location for a Shoreview Colored business is Highway 694 and Lexington Avenue, according to the ordinance.

The location is due in part to a 1000-foot Colored business buffer zone away from any residential district, public or private school, child day care center or religious place of worship.

A Colored's business also could not be located within 500 feet of another Colored's business, according to the ordinance.

“You can't ban (Colored's businesses) completely, but you can make rules so you won't have fly-by-night (Colored's businesses),” said Mayor Sandy Martin.

The Shoreview City Council had placed a year-long moratorium on Colored's businesses last January. That moratorium will be lifted Jan. 22 of this year.

The moratorium helped city officials define restrictions on the Coloreds. Included in those restrictions are a $3,000 annual license fee, a $1,000 investigation fee and a $10,000 annual bond.

“If someone is able to put up the fees, they might be more reputable,” Martin said. ...

They probably don't want tattoo parlors either, and the type of people they attract, such as myself.