OLIVETTE, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com)—
Its being described as a minefield and an obstacle course. Massive potholes are making driving hazardous in an Olivette business park. Potholes litter the streets at the Dielman Industrial Park off Dielman Road. We saw many drivers swerving to try and avoid the potholes.People who work in the area tell us some drivers are starting to cut through parking lots to avoid the streets.That is raising safety concerns.Olivette's mayor, Missy Waldman, says the streets in the industrial park are privately owned and the city can't use tax dollars to fix them. Waldman declined an on camera interview.
But she says for the past three years, the city has been trying to resolve the issue with the property owners through creating whats called a Neighborhood Improvement District.
Under that deal, the property owners would basically pay the city through bonds for the city to maintain the streets and take over ownership of them. So far, however, Mayor Waldman says the property owners have not accepted the deal.
People who use the streets everyday say a long term fix is long overdue.
Theresa Froidl, who works in the business park, described driving in the area to us.
"It's pretty much a minefield," Froidl said. She added as we drove with her, "You've got to really make sure you are maneuvering slowly because if you hit these bumps too fast, then youre definitely going to do some damage to your car."
Beverly Belleville, who works with Theresa, echoed her concerns.
She told us, "It's like an obstacle course. You dont know which way to go or how much speed do you use because you're going to hit a bump."
Mayor Waldman says the city is actually sending letters to the property owners this Friday saying either become a Neighborhood Improvement District or well take you to court and force you to fix the streets.
One of the business owners told us the problems started a couple of years ago after an association of the property owners dissolved.
That association collected dues to maintain the streets.
