By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Not only did the Great Bend City Council turn down the latest request
for specialized business parking, the governing body voted 5-2 Monday night to
remove all existing 15-minute parking stalls designated for businesses around
town.
In February, the Great Bend Tribune requested a 15-minute parking stall in
front of their building on Forest Avenue to assist elderly citizens accessing
their business. After a month of research, the council was informed there are
currently nine, 15-minute parking spots throughout town. Councilmember Cory Urban
made the motion to eliminate all special parking for businesses.
"I just think you can't play favorites with businesses," said Urban. "If we're going to continue to grow, people are going to have to get used to walking a couple of spots or half a block. It's just the way it works in larger, busier areas. We're eventually going to have lofts downtown. We're going to have other parking issues. It's one step in starting to clean that process up."
The Tribune requested a parking stall be reserved in front of their business
between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Councilmember Jolene Biggs
noted there might need to be communication amongst the business owners
downtown.
"I think it comes down to businesses telling their staff that they cannot park in front of another business," said Biggs. "That's where the dilemma seems to be. It sounds like there is an individual at one of the businesses that always parks at the Tribune spot. The business owners downtown need to address that."
The nine existing 15-minute parking stalls will be removed which includes two
stalls in front of City Hall on Williams, three for Equity Bank on Main Street,
two for Hejny Liquor on Main, one for That One Groomer on Williams and one for
Lumpy’s Bar and Grill behind their restaurant on Forest Avenue.