There is a parking problem in North Lewisburg, highlighted by a recent roving box truck.
Mechanicsburg Police Captain Scott Bodey offered his monthly crime report to members of North Lewisburg Village Council Tuesday and noted an issue with a specific box truck. The Mechanicsburg department is contracted to provide police coverage to the nearby village.
Bodey said the wide commercial truck is parking on village streets, particularly West Maple and South Sycamore streets, for a few days at a time before moving to another location.
Bodey said other commercial vehicles attempting to make deliveries to village businesses are sometimes forced to double park in order to complete their duties. He said there is also an issue with semis hauling parts for Honda that must cross the centerline to avoid the parked box truck.
Bodey said he has contacted the business affiliated with the vehicle but has not been able to locate the actual employee driving it.
But, Mayor Cheryl Hollingsworth said there is another problem.
“We have no ordinance to make it move,” she said.
The mayor said village administrator Andy Yoder is contacting other villages to see what type of parking ordinances they operate under. She said there are also some issues with regular vehicles parking for extended periods of time in front of businesses, which could also be addressed by a new parking ordinance.
Hollingsworth asked if council would like to institute two-hour parking limits in the business district, but learned that it is difficult to enforce as police can no longer chalk tires in order to track offenders.
Council will revisit the idea of restricting parking, possibly only allowing commercial trucks to park while loading or unloading, at a future meeting.
Council also agreed to provide members of Boy Scout Troop 87 with village approved identification so that members could canvas the village over the weekend for a popcorn sale fundraiser.
The troop, which is affiliated with the North Lewisburg United Methodist Church, is trying to raise money for a trip to the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Troop leader Jim Lockschmidt explained that he visited the ranch more than 30 years ago and he wanted the current scouts to have the same experiences.
The 140,000-acre ranch, donated by oil magnate Waite Phillips, is owned and operated by the Boy Scouts of America.
Lockschmidt said the scouts will take part in such things as rock climbing and shooting sports at the ranch, as well as viewing various forms of wildlife. They will also hike roughly 10 miles per day during the seven-day trip, he said, taking all of their food, supplies and shelter with them.
Lockschmidt said the fundraiser is necessary because the cost of the trip is $650 per person, plus a few hundred dollars more for travel expenses, for each of the seven youths and four adults taking part in the August trip.
In other business, council:
-Approved various line item transfers within the budget.
-Learned that village crews will begin leaf pickup in the village from Oct. 28 through Nov. 30.
-Approved the bid of Earhart Petroleum for propane services at a rate of 98 cents per gallon.
-Learned that there will be a tire collection event and drive-thru flu shot clinic on Oct. 12 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Champaign County Fairgrounds.
-Learned that a medication take-back event is planned for Oct. 26 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at 60 E. Maple St.
-Heard that a recent water line break has been repaired but water quality in the village could be impacted for a while.