Bill Richards stands in front of his boarded up chip stand. He says he'll be suing the city. Photo by Jeff Turl.
A second lawsuit is in the works over the city's handling of Lakeshore Drive reconstruction. It follows on the heels of one recently promised by L'Ami's Garden Centre owner Case L'Ami.
This time it's Bill Richards, owner of Billy Bob's Bait, across the road from L'Ami's.
Richards told BayToday he'll be suing for loss of business because of what he see's as complete bungling of the project by the city.
“We were lied to for 19 months,” he says disgustedly.
A hand made sign reads, “Closed Due To Road Construction”.
His chip stand had been open every year since 1987, and he attempted to run it during construction last summer.
“We tried to keep it open, but we were losing money. We couldn't keep selling 'dust burgers' anymore.”
Three students in the fry shop had to be laid off.
Richards sits forlornly at a picnic table in front of his boarded up burger shack.
“ We have a reputation as having the best food for 100 miles, but the length of the construction killed us.”
Richards has had to turn business away this spring.
“I had to turn away the canoe group Friends of the LaVase Portage. That's 30 people. I couldn't cook the fish.”
While continuing construction again this spring stopped Richards from opening his chip stand, his bait shop continues operation.
But he estimates he's lost at least $15,000 profit from the chip stand alone.
The whole experience has soured him on city politicians.
“The last time the Mayor came down I told him to f*** off---to get off my property. I won't be voting for any of them.”
However, Richards says he appreciates the support of his customers who have tried to drive around the construction to buy his bait.
Adding to Richards' woes is the changing of pickerel slot size regulations. He calls the MNR the “ministry of no results”. His bait business is suffering.
And so Billy Bob's Bait is up for sale.
Richards is pulling up stakes and moving to Nelson British Columbia where the walleye limit, he smiles as he says "is 20 per day".
“I''m fed up with both the MNR and the city.”
