A potential debate over making car dealers pave their lots stalled before it ever got started Tuesday night. The Independent A potential debate over making car dealers pave their lots stalled before it ever got started Tuesday night. Both car dealers and Grand Island City Council members agreed that requiring car dealers to have paved lots might not solve the root problem of junk vehicles and improper storage of oil and batteries at some businesses. City Attorney Charlie Cuypers told the council that half of all business complaints the city receives concern either car dealerships or auto repair businesses. Problem car lots exist on South Locust Street, East Highway 30, downtown, central Grand Island and western Grand Island, he said.
Problems also exist with dealerships being operated out of family residences.
Cuypers said some people who sell cars park vehicles on lawns, public rights of way or city streets. He expressed concern about how some car dealerships store batteries, oil and junk vehicle parts. Some people may start out with a good gravel lot, he said, but grow tired of grading it and cleaning it. He said the city has not been very successful in dealing with complaints. Sometimes, city employees visit a business repeatedly to try to resolve problems.