The main issues raised by representatives of the Roosevelt Center Merchants’ Association at their November 9 worksession with the Greenbelt City Council related to utilities from a broken pipe to a skyrocketing water bill to the problems of bringing modern telecommunications into the nearly 80-year-old center. The most critical issue was the decision by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) to turn off a leaking water pipe. This pipe feeds the sprinkler system for the Co-op Supermarket and, most likely, for the Arts Center and church located in the same building.
City Manager Michael McLaughlin, as well as Co-op officials, have told WSSC that such a schedule is not acceptable. He was expecting a response from WSSC but as of Tuesday afternoon, there was no change. Several of the merchants also complained of high water bills. Michael Hartman of the New Deal Café said that their water bill had recently tripled. There are four meters for the building they are in, but the billing is done by the landlord.
The final utility issue was the shared problem of bringing in high-speed internet to connect to the Center’s antiquated systems. The merchants need this service to power their credit card operations, normal computer usage and point-of-sale systems. While some merchants have successfully brought in broadband service, albeit in some cases with major time delays, others are having problems getting service from either major provider in the city. In some cases, the issue is who will pay to bring the line to the business. See the paper for more information on this issue. Click Here.