Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 20, 1995 TAG: 9507200031
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
With the resurgence of downtown business in recent years, some merchants complained that customers were unable to find parking space because people who worked downtown parked on the street all day and simply paid the town's $3 fine.
Town Council on Tuesday raised the fine for overtime parking in a two-hour space from $3 to $5, effective Sept. 1. Its Finance Committee had considered raising the fine to $7 but ended up recommending the smaller increase.
Going from $3 to $5 are fines for parking in a prohibited area, blocking a driveway, parking overtime in a loading zone, parking more than 18 inches from a curb and parking on a yellow line. A $5 fine was added for double parking or occupying two spaces. It is the first time parking fines have been changed in 10 years.
A recent downtown parking study commissioned by the Town Council shows there is sufficient off-street parking space available within convenient walking distance of downtown businesses, if people will use it.
Other changes will see fines increase from $5 to $15 for parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, $15 to $25 for parking in a fire lane, and $15 to $35 for parking illegally in a handicap zone.
In other business, cellular telephone users will pay about $7,000 in town taxes next year after council extended its consumer utility tax to cellular phones. Council authorized getting a $574,600 loan from the federal Rural Economic and Community Development agency to replace sewer lines that have corroded and make other utility repairs.
Other work includes maintenance for the town's 12 water storage tanks, although Utilities Committee Chairman John Johnston reported the tanks were found to be in better condition than had been anticipated.
by CNB