By Debbie Carson, Online Editor
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Business owners and residents should be on the lookout for a person trying to get them to pay to paint their addresses on their curbs, authorities said.
The Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce issued a business alert after the Vero Beach Police Department received complaints about the individual. The subject, identified only as James Mort, has been posting fliers on mailboxes that give the impression that it is an official notice coming from the city, according to the alert.
Sebastian Police Department spokesman Officer Steve Marcinik said that he has not seen the individual or the fliers in the city yet. However, he said that Mort has been in Palm Bay and elsewhere in Brevard.
“The guy travels around,” Officer Marcinik said.
The fliers’ message is essentially that the street number of the business or home must be painted on the curb in order to meet code requirements. While true, Officer Marcinik said that business owners and residents are not required to hire Mort or anyone working with him to get the job done.
“The city did not authorize him for this work,” the business alert reads. “He would need a right of way permit and a valid license to conduct such work. His name is not listed anywhere as a legitimate entity.”
The alert also says that anyone who receives the notice should discard it and to not do business with the company. It also provides phone numbers for the various law enforcement agencies.