Council sets safety deadlines for The Mountain

New First Monday building OK’d

Trade Days business once again dominated the Canton City Council meeting July 19 with city officials dealing with a building request for First Monday grounds, bed and breakfast regulations and safety concerns on The Mountain.

First Monday building

A request by Jeff and Nancy Cleveland to build on 10 lots on First Monday grounds was approved unanimously.

The Clevelands have been First Monday vendors since 2010. They are proposing to build a “lock and leave” type building on rows 9 and 14. The couple would continue to operate their Trade Days business in the open-air portion of the grounds.

“I thought we wanted owner occupants of the buildings,” Councilwoman Cindy Malouf said.

Councilman Nathan Moore said he thought the intent was owner occupation but the Clevelands wouldn’t be absentee owners.

The couple currently leases six spots. The building would cover 10 additional spots.

“That is an area that is undeveloped and we aren’t getting any money off it now,” Mayor Lou Ann Everett said.

Every lease and building request is going to be different and should be considered individually, Mayor pro tem Shawn Stewart said.

“Every one of these leases is going to be different and every one of them is going to have something that’s going to be tweaked,” he said. “It’s a case-by-case call.”

Council discussed if a percentage of a building should be owner occupied, but agreed that may not be possible for the length of a 25-lease.

“I can’t guarantee I’ll be there for 25 years,” Jeff Cleveland said. “It makes no difference to you whether I’m there or not.  You still get the money. This is an $80,000 building. I’m showing my commitment.”

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