FARMINGTON – The ongoing debate on parking spaces in the downtown district spilled over into another venue today, when the county commissioners heard a request to use a portion of the lot outside the courthouse on the Church Street side for business employees.
The idea was presented by the Farmington Downtown Business & Professional Association, which has been looking into ways to increase the amount of parking available for downtown business employees. The fear is that many employees are now parking in areas near the businesses, in spaces typically used by customers.
This problem has been recently debated at a variety of meetings in Farmington, after Foothills Management owner, William Marceau announced that he planned on reclaiming 18 spaces in the parking lot behind the Sun Journal newspaper office and the former Howard’s Rexall building, for use of future business tenants of a development planned for the area. The parking area is actually part of the Howard’s property but has over the years been open to general parking.
The loss of a number of spaces from an already overcrowded parking system has resulted in several boards and local organizations to begin discussing new solutions. The downtown business association thought that the county’s lot, next to the courthouse, could provide a few spaces.
“We’re trying to get some [parking spaces] opened up, as one possibility,” association representative Nicole Dustin told the commissioners.
Her group had been running parking surveys over the past few months and had discovered that the 19-space lot had, on average, roughly 8 spots filled with vehicles. She suggested that a handful of permits could be issued and provided to some businesses for their employees.
While sympathizing with the problem, commissioners were dubious as to whether such a project could work. There are currently more county employees than there are parking spaces, and Commissioner Fred Hardy of New Sharon, noted that just because a space wasn’t filled didn’t mean that the employee didn’t need it.
“The fact still remains that if we give up spaces for our employees then where are they going to park?” he asked.
County Clerk Julie Magoon pointed out that the county had its own parking problems when court was in session. Jury selection, space for transport vehicles from the jail and room for the officers of the court often forced county employees down onto the Anson Street lot or elsewhere.
“Those are the days that courtroom security gets on us to make sure that only authorized vehicles are in that lot,” she said. She went on to note that court days could not always be predicted.
Commissioners said that they would consider the data and would also be willing to entertain a specific proposal if presented. Sheriff Dennis Pike said that the Farmington Board of Selectmen of which he is a member, was making the municipal lot next to Meetinghouse Park daytime parking only. This forces those living in the area to park elsewhere after midnight, giving business employees a place to park during the day.
In other business, the commissioners approved spending $3,746 to repair a cracked combustion chamber inside a furnace in the sheriff’s office building. The damaged furnace part was found during a maintenance sweep conducted after temperature fluctuations were reported.
That money will come out of a contingency fund, as repairing a damaged furnace is considered an emergency expenditure.
Commissioners also agreed to an extension of service with the mental health agency at the Franklin County Jail. That agency, Evergreen Behavioral Service, is associated with the Franklin Community Health Network, which is also providing medical service.
“It’s been a super mix,” Pike said, praising the network, “and a great asset to the county.”
FCHN took over temporarily, after Allied Resources for Correctional Health Inc. opted out of their contract. As of Dec. 31, services will be provided temporarily by the Wilson Stream Family Practice. Franklin County is currently working with other counties to find a health service provider to provide permanent coverage.
I think the best fix is to build a parking garage. It would be a great investment. Building up is better than taking up more valuable space and it wouldn’t have to be huge, just a few stories, and then we won’t have worry about parking for a long time. There are a few places it could easily be built. Maybe you should look into it.