North Lewisburg Village Council has taken its first steps to address a problem with a troublesome box truck parking along city streets for extended periods of time.
Council heard first reading Tuesday on an amendment to the village parking ordinances. The new restrictions pertain specifically to commercial and heavy vehicles.
The move comes in response to an issue first raised at October’s council meeting, regarding a commercial truck parking along village streets, particularly on West Maple and South Sycamore streets, for days at a time before moving to another location.
The truck reportedly creates difficulties for other commercial vehicles attempting to travel or make deliveries on the streets. One resident in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting said the truck also make it difficult for drivers to see oncoming traffic when pulling onto streets.
But Mayor Cheryl Hollingsworth pointed out last month that the village did not have parking ordinances in place that addressed the situation. Village Administrator Andy Yoder sought to remedy that Tuesday with the first reading of the commercial vehicle parking restriction ordinance.
The new code pertains to any “commercial tractor, semi trailer, recreational vehicle or any trailer or motor vehicle of any kind having a gross vehicle weight of more than 6,000 pounds, more than 20 feet in length or having more than two axles.” The ordinance forbids parking such vehicles on, or within the right-of-way of, any village street or alley.
The ordinance does provide exceptions for vehicles making pickups or deliveries “for a reasonable time and at a point reasonably near to the property being so serviced.” Also exempt is equipment being used for construction services or making repairs to a property. Vehicles for emergency services are also exempt.
The ordinance is enforceable as a minor misdemeanor and subject to a $150 fine. Captain Scott Body of the Mechanicsburg Police Department, which services the village, said he sees no problems with enforcing the ordinance.
Council member John Collier noted that council had discussed placing a time limit on parking in the village business district and asked if that idea was covered in the ordinance. Yoder said tracking and enforcement of such a code would be difficult and it was not included in the ordinance.
Council also dealt with a handful of issues related to the upcoming holiday season.
The December council meeting on Dec. 10 will start 30 minutes earlier, at 6:30 p.m., in order to help accommodate the community holiday dinner immediately after business concludes.
Council also approved the purchase of 21 holiday hams to be given to village employees and volunteers on various boards and committees.
It was also noted that the village Christmas parade will be held on Dec. 15 at 5 p.m.
In other business, council:
–Learned that 109 pounds of medication was collected at the drug take-back events in North Lewisburg and Mechanicsburg.
–Approved a $150 donation to the Maple Grove Garden Club for village decorations throughout the year.
–Was introduced to David Patrick and Chad Burroughs who announced their intentions to seek election as Champaign County Sheriff.
–Learned that the village received reimbursement for $2,500 for brush grinding and $2,565 for the spring clean-up event from the North Central Ohio Solid Waste District.
–Learned that leaf pickup will continue through the end of the month.