Mechanics' argument scheduled for court

A Grand Coulee man cited for operating a business in a residential district without a license may get his day in court soon.

Donovan Picard, of 431 Grand Coulee Avenue, could argue his case before municipal court judge Richard Fitterer as early as Friday, Nov. 22.

Picard has been served a citation with a penalty of $750 by Grand Coulee Police, telling him to cease repairing vehicles at his home garage in violation of the city’s ordinances.

Two mechanic firms in Grand Coulee, MPH and Jack’s Service, had complained to the city council back in September that Picard was running a business without a city license and in a residential area not zoned for business.

Picard received the citation and immediately informed the city that he would argue his case in municipal court.

A city official said Grand Coulee’s attorney would be on hand for the court session. However, Police Chief Mel Hunt said the court date would likely be re-scheduled to January next year.

Picard has said that he did do repair work at his home garage, but it was primarily for relatives and friends.

The city wasn’t buying this and instructed Hunt to issue Picard a citation. The citation was for $750, part for not having a business license, part for the zoning violation.

City Clerk Carol Boyce said the fine for not operating a business without license is $250. The penalty for having a business in a residential zone is $500 per day. Each day is a new violation, she stated.

Since Picard has decided to fight the citation, its penalties will not be applied until after the court session.

A neighbor, Mike Graves, in a letter to the editor about the operation, said he didn’t have any problem with Picard doing repair work. He stated that there were no advertising signs out front, no long line of cars, and that Picard does exceptional repair work.