Commissioners look at guidelines for lots (05/06/08)

County commissioners want some restrictions on parking in a new county-owned lot on West Walnut Street but not as many restrictions as a city of Portland ordinance calls for.

"We just need something very simple," commissioner Gary Theurer said Monday afternoon.

The city's parking lot control ordinance prohibits parking on specified lots by persons other than customers or employees.

The commissioners want to limit parking on the Walnut Street lot to courthouse employees between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. But they would like the public to be able to use the lot, which is adjacent to the Ritz Theatre, on weekends and in the evenings.

Sheriff Ray Newton said his department would be willing to enforce any county ordinance controlling parking on the lot, with any tickets being routed through Jay Superior Court.

"By the third ticket, they'll be parking somewhere else," said commissioner Faron Parr.

Courthouse employees would be issued a tag to hang from the rearview mirror of their car as a means of identification.

Commissioners will ask their attorney to draft an ordinance for their future action.

In other business, the commissioners Monday re-appointed John Nill and Dean Jetter to four-year terms on the Jay County Hospital Board of Trustees.[[In-content Ad]]