Letter to Editor: Proposed Flea Market Could Draw 'Dead Beats'

Below is a letter from Tom Kusmerz, president of The Barn Nursery, that was passed along to LITH Patch and also sent to the Lake in the Hills Village Board regarding his opinions on a proposed flea market in Lake in the Hills:

I am writing to express my absolute outrage and disapproval regarding the potential Flea Market that has been proposed just south of my property.

There has been tremendous growth and investment in the area surrounding Rt 31 and Rakow Road and we believe the legitimate business in this area would be negatively affected by a flea market opening up. We have invested in our business heavily this year, in order to attract reputable consumers that we welcome in our business, neighborhoods and towns, not scavengers.

Flea markets, especially in today’s tough economy, attract primarily desperate vendors, full of inexpensive garbage and those that are known for being a main supplier of counterfeit goods and stolen items. Because there is no other way to put it, “dead beats” with no intention of running legitimate business and paying sales tax.

We believe the added traffic and congestion would be a hazard and that a flea market would be a public eye sore. We have concerns about the safety of our customers, employees and our property. We do not believe a flea market adds any value to Lake In The Hills or the neighboring communities.

Please feel free to contact me regarding this proposed flea market. The Village Board is meeting on this on Tuesday April 26th at 7:30PM. We need your support and voices in fighting against this proposed operation. I can be reached at 846-658-3883, ext 15 or email me at tom.k.sr@barnnurserylandscape.com.

Sincerely,

Tom Kusmerz

President, The Barn Nursery, 8109 S. Route 31 in Cary