(Editor’s Note: Sister Tarpley, who writes the Religion column for NDG, took Carrollton City Councilmembers to task on Tuesday night over the treatment of a local restaurant owner trying to get a Certificate of Occupancy from City staff. The following is a transcript of her remarks.)
For the 3rd time in two or less months, I am here because of Breakers Korean BBQ Restaurant; and more importantly on behalf of all residents of Carrollton.
All businesses in Carrollton reduce our taxes to resident homeowners and apartment owners thereby to their tenants as well, hence all of Carrollton. How dare you not represent Carrollton’s residents that voted you in office on your promise to represent them!
You have before you two list of people, one list employed by the city and their tenure in their current position and the other is a list of individuals that are in some way or the other associated with Breakers Korean BBQ Restaurant.
I find it quite interesting that Buckeye Fire Extinguishers Company and their representatives have more experience than all of the men on the list before you in our Fire Department of their combined employment that have interacted with Breakers BBQ and their new Down Draft Table Top Equipment for their tables.
As I have stated, Carrollton’s Deputy Mayor Pro Tem and Ron Simmons, a Carrollton resident, both told me that the down drift tables were in compliance with UL rules, but neither had the backbone to state that in public.
Mr. Bobby Kim was even given a $1,000 citation by Ron, a fire inspector, who has been in that position for only four years, for non compliance of installing the incorrect system in for their tables, according to Ron Brennan. However, Buckeye sent letter after letter stating what was installed at Breakers was correct, with proof. However, Ron told Buckeye that he knew more about their equipment that they developed and tested numerous times than they did. Such arrogance!
Since I have lived in Carrollton for over fifty years this is the second incident that I have heard of with this bad attitude from employees.
I have done a little research and discovered that Home Depot and Sears, among other companies that sell down draft table top equipment such as Buckeye does, that they do not require extra equipment for their down draft table top burners such as Breakers has been required to do by Ron; and you cannot tell me that Ron would have made the same demands on them.
I have witnessed Mr. Kim, spend extra money, and I assume quite a bit, on things that, Ron Brennan told him that he would not approve a CO for them unless they did exactly what he said, and again I say, I do not believe he would have told Home Depot or Sears that.
This incident brings to my mind of what happened in 1996. I was called by Mr. Jerry Spaulding, representing JESCO International and other business owners in Place 3, about the unreasonable demands the city was placing on them that wasn’t necessary, before they could get a CO from the city.
I met them at Crosby Recreation Center; and after discussing the situation and suggesting a “Recall Election” of the mayor and council that is supposed to represent them; that night, with Mr. Spaulding giving the first $200 for a first time in Carrollton’s history, for a total recall of the Mayor and City Council.
It was successful; Councilman Glenn Blanscet’s brother, Gary, was mayor at the time. He should be able to give you the details. To make a long story short, the businesses that had a successful recall are still in Carrollton, paying their taxes and bringing in revenue for the benefit of the City of Carrollton.
With this in mind, I am calling all media, press, radio, and TV to report that I am going to form an Ad Hoc Committee to call for a meeting between the business owners, homeowners and apartment tenants of Carrollton for us to research “Recall Elections” and educate ourselves, especially since this affect everybody’s taxes, to form a Recall Committee to start over with a new mayor and council members that will put the interest of its citizens first instead of city staff’s interest, thereby representing all of its citizens, residents and businessmen alike.
Just as Carrollton’s business and homeowners recognized how much tax revenue they were losing in the late 90’s because they had a mayor and council that did not look after their interest, I truly believe that our citizens of today will realize how much we are losing today. They just need to be informed.
The business owners at the corner of Beltline and Josey have complained for years about our sign ordinances and now I am hearing complaints from business owners at Josey & Hebron, Trinity Mills & Old Denton Road, Frankford & Old Denton Road and Frankford & Marsh Lane are complaining also.
Our sign ordinance needs to be revisited and updated, with a committee of business owners and staff combined. Our battle cry will be “Elect individuals that will keep their promise to represent the citizens of Carrollton.”
