Council against early vendor set up

Although the city has been contacted by at least three Custer Cruisin’ vendors about the possibility of setting up their booths early this year, the Custer City Council nixed the idea at its July 19 meeting.

Community development director Rex Harris fielded the calls and said because the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is essentially a week late this year, there could be a lot of bikes in town early, and some vendors were putting out feelers as to the city’s willingness to let them set up early, possibly on the south side of Washington Steet until 6th Street is closed for vendors. Harris said transient merchants are allowed two permits per year,and if they were allowed to set up early could buy a three-day permit before buying a longer one for the bulk of the rally.

Downtown business owner Robert Paceley said he had taken a poll of some of the downtown business owners, all of whom were against allowing vendors to set up early.

“We’re the guys here November, December, January and February,” he said. “We’re not too hip to this.”