Star Lite Swap Meet owner challenges Lakewood

The owner of the Star Lite Swap Meet has appealed a decision by the city of Lakewood that placed conditions on his business license.

Filed April 25, the appeal by Hank Bardon’s attorney argues the city had “no factual basis” under city code to suspend his license April 7.

The appeal was filed with the city hearing examiner.

Attorney Stephen Burnham asked the examiner to reverse the city’s administrative order requiring Bardon to meet conditions to legally operate. The appeal asks for a stay of all enforcement on Bardon’s property and to dismiss the order so that the swap meet can “continue business in the same manner it has in the past.”

The appeal also seeks clarification about requirements in the event the examiner doesn’t rule in Bardon’s favor. Specifically, Bardon wants to know what the city means by requiring him to “accurately count attendance each day,” according to the appeal.

Lakewood City Manager John Caulfield called Bardon’s action a surprise “given what we have heard from the property owner that they want to work with the city to address these safety issues.”

“It’s disheartening that they do not want to, for example, address vehicle and pedestrian traffic flow in and out of their business to ensure for the safety of those who visit their business as well as those who have to navigate this area, particularly during the weekend,” Caulfield wrote in an email.

Lakewood suspended Bardon’s business license after four Lakewood police officers had difficulty responding to the site April 3 after reports of a missing child. Heavy traffic on South 84th Street and South Tacoma Way and crowds of people trying to enter the swap meet slowed their response.

This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 9:54 AM with the headline "Star Lite Swap Meet owner challenges Lakewood."