Pomeroy Council to consider continuing free parking

POMEROY – Village council is once again considering the future of parking meters in Pomeroy.

In April 2016, council voted to have six months of free parking on the parking lot and on Main Street. Normally the meters are bagged from November through Christmas for holiday shopping. The time limit is up and council will be addressing the future of the meters at their next council meeting on Tuesday, January 17 at 7 p.m. in the village hall.

In the spring of 2016, merchants from Pomeroy were polled concerning free parking. Of the 37 merchants polled, only three were for retaining parking meters in the village. As previously reported in the Meigs Independent Press, back in April council member and current council president, Don Anderson, informed council he met with merchants. Anderson reported that overwhelmingly the merchants wanted the meters removed. He said that “100 percent of the customers wanted them removed,” according to the survey conducted by merchants for council.

Refurbished meters had been purchased for $14,000 and installed prior to the decision to suspend collecting meter fees. The refurbished meters were placed on Court, Lynn, and Second Streets. Those meters were supposed to have continued to be collected although at a recent council meeting it was stated the whereabouts of the key to the meters was not known. It was eventually found, but the meters have not be regularly emptied for months.

The paid parking permits on the parking lot were also suspended. Prior to the April decision, a portion of the parking lot facing the river was reserved for those paying for parking permits. The entire parking lot has been free as of the April 2016 decision.

Pomeroy merchants have maintained they believe the free parking to be beneficial for business and the continued revitalization and progress of the village. The matter is expected to be decided at the next council meeting.

Pomeroy Council Votes for Free Parking through most of Village