By Elizabeth Lowe
Staff writer

Goodrich – At 6 p.m. Aug. 8, seven vehicles and a motor home lined M-15 in the Goodrich Plaza parking lot.
All bore license plates. And ‘For Sale? signs.
Used cars sold along M-15 are becoming an eyesore, say village officials, as well as a potentially hazardous distraction along the busy road.
Village council members are asking Attorney Tom McKenney to review the current ordinance regarding whether stickers can be put on vehicles left in the parking lots of area businesses.
‘I think we should do it, but if there aren’t ordinances in place, I think we should look at amending the ordinance,? said council member Rodney Pierson.
Alicia Echols is the code enforcement clerk for Grand Blanc Township, where police officers–not code enforcement officers–issue citations for vehicles violating local ordinances. Their concern about cars being sold is simply where the vehicles are parked.
‘There’s no parking on the grass,? says Echols. ‘We don’t govern the (commercial) parking lots…it’s up to the proprietor.?
In Vienna Township, used cars parked in commercial lots that aren’t licensed to sell vehicles has been an ongoing battle, says township building superintendent Bob Palmer.
‘It’s a very tough thing to enforce,? he said. ‘It’s a matter of trying to get with the owner and trying to explain the liability issue.?
In Vienna Township, cars for sale parked in commercial lots are dealt with in two ways.
Vehicles parked against the property owner’s wishes are warned–by calling the phone number usually posted on the ‘For Sale? sign–then towing the car with the property owner’s permission.
Vehicles parked on commercial property with the property owner’s approval are dealt with by taking the business owner to court for selling vehicles without a license to do so.
‘If you want to do it, you’ve got to commit a lot of money and time and resources to do it,? Palmer said.
The code enforcer for Vienna Township, which is about twice as populated as Atlas Township and many times larger than the village, deals with the issue three days per week, estimates Palmer. Vienna Township pays the enforcer to appear in court nearly weekly.
‘It’s a difficult situation and nearly a full-time job,? Palmer said.
Village administrator Jakki Sidge says the plaza owner is spending money to have a new facade constructed, and doesn’t want the cars in his lot. Other business owners, who allegedly receive payment to allow vehicles to be sold from their property, will soon appear in court.
If the village doesn’t step in, business owners may find themselves brainstorming measures to stop sales of vehicles in their parking lots, including ‘No Parking? signs or replacing parking areas near M-15 with landscaping.
Village officials want to crack down not only on sellers of used cars, but on businesses violating sign ordinances, who have ignored repeated warnings.
Village of Goodrich council members will review the issue when the council meets again Sept. 12. Meetings are held in the second-floor community room above the Goodrich library, located at 10237 Hegel Road in downtown Goodrich.