SANDY, Utah – The community is rallying to save a small business.
Sandy City informed Kuwahara Wholesale, a locally owned nursery, that it may not re-open.
At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, dozens of people waited to make a plea to council members to give the business another chance.
The meeting began with a presentation by several Sandy City departments that lasted about an hour.
They outlined several code and permit violations they have documented over the last few years.
Following that presentation, Alex Kuwahara, the owner of Kuwahara Wholesale, delivered emotional comments.
“This is my family’s livelihood,” Kuwahara said as he tried to hold back tears. “I am here to ask for help.”
55 people signed up to give comments to the council. Each person was allotted a maximum of three minutes.
Many spoke of Kuwahara’s character.
“Alex Kuwahara is a good, honest man,” said one person who told the council he drove from Beaver, Utah to be in attendance.
Others described the city’s action as a case of government overreach.
“It sounded to me like it’s a lot of hands in the cookie jar,” one woman described the city’s presentation.
The public comment session lasted several hours.
The city council said it would make a decision at a later date.
