Wheeling too quick to go for the dollars

The newly expanded Fresh Farms grocery store was to provide a treasure of sales tax revenue. Unfortunately it is a big source of problems that includes difficult customer parking, delivery truck snarls, invasion of residential tranquillity and traffic congestion in the heart of Wheeling.

It is doubtful that the growing clamorous neighborhood complaints will have any effect. It’s a done deal and other than remote parking, no fine-tuning of traffic patterns or street parking restrictions will rectify the headaches.

What caused them to squeeze the oversized facility in a limited space while ignoring the negative impact upon the neighborhood? How did the boondoggle get this far? There is no evidence of palm greasing or malicious intent.

Simply, the project was infected by the insatiable appetite of the Wheeling (Village) Board to inappropriately promote anything that could correct their overspending. Apparently, the board has the propensity to believe that evermore commercialism is a cure-all. The board has some honorable members but I believe that overall, it lacks good judgment.

It will be interesting to see whose patience runs out the soonest: the neighborhood residents’ or the distraught customers’.

Jack Caldwell

Wheeling