BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Members of the Beckley City Council voiced concerns Tuesday about ongoing activity involving the sale of animals, food and other items on a privately owned parking lot along North Eisenhower Drive between Cook Out and Golden Corral.
The issue was discussed during council members’ remarks at the council’s regular meeting on June 2.
The activity at the location has also been the subject of complaints and discussion among residents on social media.
Councilmember Nancy Shoemaker-Dingess said she has become increasingly concerned about what is being sold at the location.
“Not only did we have mixed pups for sale, but we also had somebody who just took up the whole front of that with God knows what it was. It’s getting to the point people are buying animals, you know, they could be animals that have disease,” Shoemaker-Dingess said.
“It’s just not a good thing to be selling animals, food, anything because if something should happen, you know, it’s going to come back to, they bought it in Beckley and, you know, they’re not policing and and doing what they they should be doing.”
Councilmember Natalie Coots agreed, saying the amount of merchandise being sold at the site appears to have expanded significantly.
“I noticed that one lady looked like she had moved her garage sale. I mean, just everything imaginable. It’s gotten out of hand. They need to have permits. And the fact that they have those poor little dogs baking in the sun without shelter, something needs to be done about that,” Coots said.
Council members briefly discussed ownership of the property, which is a parking lot located between the two businesses. Beckley City Manager Philip Jarrell told council members he would look further into the matter.
According to available parcel maps, the lot closest to North Eisenhower Drive, where the sales occur, is privately owned by Cook Out.
