Citing the increasing number of folks who live in downtown Iola, City Council members said those tenants soon should be able to park overnight on portions of the courthouse square.
The Council endorsed Monday a proposal from Mayor Jon Wells, to allow parking along Jefferson and Washington avenues, provided those vehicles are parked on stalls on the ?inside? of the square. That is, those cars must be parked on the side of the street nearest the courthouse, and not directly in front of the businesses that dot both avenues.
Wells called the measure a compromise, with a nod to those who have strived in recent years to refurbish apartment complexes downtown.
?This large came about because of the new lofts,? Wells said. ?I?d like to see what the Council thinks.?
The Council was receptive, with one exception. Wells?s original proposal was to allow overnight parking only along stalls south of West and East streets (or those areas across from the Thrive Allen County and Allen County Historical Society buildings, respectively.)
However, Councilman Ron Ballard noted other apartments can be found on other parts of the square, and favored opening the stalls all the way from Madison to Jackson avenues. (Note: See map below for more detail.)
Up to now, the city prohibits overnight parking on the square because city crews typically sweep the downtown streets at least one day a week, and to allow for snow removal when necessary.
The Council discussed the matter in April, and asked City Administrator Sid Fleming to come back with numbers of people living in downtown apartments.
Twenty-two live in residential apartments, with another seven long-term stay units added to the mix, Fleming said.
The exceptions to the overnight parking stalls will be those marked for 30-minute parking, Council members agreed.
Fleming also wondered aloud if the city would be permitted to remove vehicles in some cases, such as if city crews need to clear snow from the square.
?This will put a heavy burden on staff,? Fleming said.
The new parking rules will be written up in an ordinance for formal approval.
