03/01/2024
What do you do when life feels stacked against you? A few weeks ago, a new sign showed up on a little gravel road…and I’ve never felt more unwanted.
NO PARKING. Here. Or really…anywhere. 🚫
Bear with me folks. This is a long overdue and long winded post…but I’m going to say it anyway. Because I am stuck. Again. And again and again.
In 2010, a young lady met a young guy. She looked at the promise and solid foundation and knew that she could help. He saw something in her that no one else did. And lit the match to help her burn bright with all the energy he could muster.
In 2011, a building got put up on a small lot in the industrial park and business was off and running. Fargo-Moorhead was going to boom…and they were here for the ride.
In 2014, the two formally moved to West Fargo. All chips in. Family, work, friends and the fire to bring something beautiful, one project at a time. 🔥
In 2017, they brought an idea to West Fargo Parks about a property that could be retrofitted and was in disrepair. The City responded with a cordial, get lost.
In 2019, someone passed away and a for sale sign went up online. The idea of something from new beginnings was born again.
In 2020, they brought the same idea to the Planning Department. It gained momentum! But the Commission sent it back and the plan was almost lost forever. With thousands of dollars, lost time and every emotion on the line, the purchase got approved in early February. Barely. And sledgehammers were flying within days. No permit and no permission. The City still shuffled their feet and wanted ultimate control. Commercial was out of the question, but maybe something more restrictive could work.
By nothing short of a miracle, May came and a “temporary” occupancy was granted. People flooded the lots and gave them hope. It was a success! But the City wasn’t done. The entrance that had been approved by the Commission got sent back to the drawing board. A new restricted entrance. No turn lane, even though it had been approved initially. The young lady was treated like a child by her peers and told to go back in her box. “Let the men handle this.” Didn’t she know they were doing her a favor? She was going belly up anyways.
In 2021, the entrance issue was brought up again. Delivery drivers and customers were confused and driving unsafely. The road improvement assessments were tripled because the lot now was functioning in a “commercial” capacity, but zoned as a PUD. Because they’d never allow her the benefit of a full commercial parcel. She needed rules. And she was going to be gone soon. So they had to make sure to drown her in unanticipated debt and unresolved problems.
In 2022, she invited the Mayor and begged him to reconsider the entry condition. Couldn’t he see that this was terrible for both business and safety? No. He walked away and ignored it all. She was visited by another Commissioner and the radio stations. They couldn’t believe she was still trying. One Commissioner sat down in her office and berated her, saying the safety was her fault for bringing the business to the area. He even used the Economic “Developer” try to talk her out of asking for any additional changes. This was good enough. Then he went on the radio and lied to everyone, saying they were “looking in to every option to help”. The media went away. The Commission passed the buck back and forth with the departments. No one will take ownership and make a change. You’re on your own little girl.
In 2023, she got more brave and brought the issue directly to the Commissioners since the departments weren’t doing their diligence. The Commission directed the departments to work with the young lady on a solution. Begrudgingly, they did. New Engineer. New review. Same results. Well, possibly 4th Street could work? Let’s present that to the Commission as the best option.
The Commission. Ah…the Commission and the Mayor. The big guy in charge. It took three minutes for the Commission to squash months of meetings and work towards a goal. 4th Street is out of the question. HOW ON EARTH COULD ANYONE think it was a good idea to set “precedence” letting a business have an entry using City owned property? Absolutely no. Who cares about safety?
Over the years, the City closed its exit from the Recycle center to try and deter traffic from using it for access. Then they put up no u-turn signs. Then they requested extra patrol from West Fargo Police Department to penalize people for trying to enter improperly who were confused. Now we’ve got NO PARKING signage on the only road within walking distance of the property. They refuse to let us bring a large farmer’s market to the empty lot on our south or safely park for overflow when the West Fargo Parks department wants to host events.
In all our struggles and trials, we have quietly persevered and pushed further, harder and longer than any of us thought possible. We started as two with a dream and small team. Somehow capturing a network of more than 80 people and more when you include the family members that rely on their work efforts.
I am going to say, in as raw and down to earth way I can…please help. Please come support our small business and the people that work here.
We are literally bending every obstacle we can to make this place available to your City. If you don’t start shouting from the rooftops and advocating for us soon, in every way possible, you will lose this amenity and it’s magic. Will you miss us if we are gone?
If SheyWest does not turn the financial corner by this December, I fear we will lose it forever. We will have to do as this sign says and put the vehicle in drive…there will be NO PARKING in West Fargo if the City continues to dagger us every day. They are the greatest enemy. Whether it is intentional or not, they’ve chosen to help enough to stick us in an impossible situation and leave us with a mess and no recourse.
I refuse to turn a blind eye to the absolutely hurtful and ignorant remarks from all departments. They are self-serving and many have no intention to make improvements in this town. It is up to us to do that West Fargo. Not the City officials. I run enough companies to know that these employees are failing us and trying to gut our town of some truly quality functions.
Call your Commissioners and call the Mayor. Tell them to get over here and give us a solution. BUT PLEASE BE KIND. We want a resolution. Not a fight.
These are the five people that have been
denying our requests for a change:
Bernie Dardis (Mayor)
(701) 367-2784
Brad Olson
(701) 715-2177
Mark Simmons
(701) 306-3815
Roben Anderson
(763) 219-6449
Mandy George
(701) 866-4790
Thank you for contacting them to tell them our
entrance is not sufficient and is unsafe. Tell them to get solutions for businesses and STOP PUTTING UP ROADBLOCKS!
What else can you do? Share this post. Come and see these fabulous young women and men in our store. Buy another houseplant for your kitchen. Bring your grandmother over for a coffee at the Watering Can when it opens this spring. Let your kids stay in the barn nook for five more minutes and be littles. Putt on our green and see what’s new in the Ivy Room. Come and make memories with us West Fargo. Before it’s too late and we aren’t here for you to do that with.
We are working hard to bring this rugged world out of the ashes and make it beautiful again. And we can’t do it without your help.
All My Love,
Jodi Lynn
👩🏻🌾💕🌱
