Elmer City to address parking problem

Elmer City is working on handling a parking problem in town by enforcing an ordinance that says cars not in compliance can be towed after seven days, with notice.

Town Clerk Kelly Ross said she would have a revised ordinance ready for the council to consider next month that aligns with current reality. The current ordinance was passed in 1950, and assigns the job of tagging non-compliant parked rigs to the town marshal, which the town hasn’t had for decades.

The 1950 ordinance, number 28, states the offender can be made to pay the cost of abatement (towing) and fined $250 a day.

The most serious problem, especially in fire season, said Jimmer Tillman, the maintenance superintendent, is when access for emergency vehicles is blocked because they can’t get by parked vehicles in streets or in alleys.

Another problem, Ross said, is vehicles parking on sidewalks. “You know, the sidewalks aren’t meant to be parking areas, and the concrete is not meant to hold heavy vehicles,” she said.

“We get so many complaints,” Tillman said. “People want us to do something about it.”

Ross said she’d had three that week.

The council will take up the discussion at the next meeting, Aug. 13 at 5:30 p.m.