At Tuesday night’s (August 16th) Regular Council meeting, Mark Rose of the Picton Business Improvement Association (BIA) presented concerns regarding the East Main Street construction on surrounding businesses.

Mark noted that businesses (including retail in particular) have reported a 20-60% downturn in their business since the construction’s commencement. Efforts to remedy this, thus far, on the part of the BIA include an active promotional social media campaign, proper signage on detour routes signifying that downtown businesses are still open, and a busker/musician campaign to animate the street.

The Picton BIA also requested free parking on Main Street for the duration of the construction (estimated to be complete in November) to help incentivize visits to the affected businesses. CAO Marcia Wallace commented that on an average summer month, fees from parking in the area amount to $7,200 with an addition $3,500 in fines.

Council then voted in favor (7 to 6) for a staff report towards this end for presentation at the September Regular Council meeting.

Council also voted in favour of another BIA request to grant municipal water access to Alec Kanga, who has been watering Main Street’s flowers over the years. Alec thus far has been using donated water from the local Esso station, but with access to Picton Town Hall’s tap, his watering efficiency will increase greatly.

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