Free parking for all of Pomeroy, era of parking meters ends

Free parking for all of Pomeroy now as the era of meters ends with a vote from Pomeroy Council. Photo by Carrie Gloeckner.

POMEROY – Parking is free throughout the village of Pomeroy.

During the Pomeroy Village Council meeting on Feb. 6, 2017, decades of debate on the future of parking meters ended with a unanimous vote to get rid of all meters therefore making parking free. Following discussion and input from several Pomeroy merchants, Pomeroy Council member Ruth Spaun made the motion and Council President Don Anderson seconded the motion to remove all parking meters and poles. It was unanimously approved.

For years the debate to keep the meters has gone back and forth with the council, residents and merchants. Susan Dingess, owner of Clark’s Jewelry Store has lobbied for a long time to have the meters removed. She addressed council prior to their decision encouraging the mayor and council to be keep Pomeroy “moving in the right direction.”

Dingess said the downtown is moving forward and gaining in popularity. “This is the place to be now,” she said, “Let’s be forward thinking.”

The council had previously approved, on a trial basis, making parking free in the parking lot and on Main Street. Several of the merchants said they have had more business with free parking to the point some have hired new employees. That was a point which several council members expressed was the type of information they were looking for in order to vote to remove the meters.

A letter of support for free parking was presented by the merchants to Mayor Bryan Shank and council from the Meigs County Commissioners in support of free parking. Concerns about courthouse employee parking was addressed as overflow employee parking is in the old Powell’s parking lot.

Several “new” meters had been put in part of the town about a year ago. The meters are refurbished and cost the village $7,000. According to Financial Officer Susan Baker, the village has collected about half that amount from the new meters. They will be sold along with the old meters to recover the cost.

According to the council, the free parking took effect immediately.

In addition to Spaun and Anderson, Council members Nick Michael, Phil Ohlinger and Maureen Hennessy were present. Council member Vic Young was absent from the meeting.