With winter coming, so are new parking rules

As December approaches, so increases the expectations of snow and where to park in Creston when enough snow falls.

What used to start Nov. 1 now only goes into effect when it snows. The city of Creston’s Snow Emergency Ordinance has changed. Creston no longer requires parking on a certain side of street through March to allow for snow clearing even when no snow is present. The concept will be used only when it snows enough to be declared to put the policy into effect.

The new ordinance states when conditions are present or forecasted to necessitate snow removal or ice treatment equipment be put into operation, a snow emergency may be declared. The declaration and removal of the declaration is the responsibility of the superintendent of streets or a designee. A snow emergency does not mean snow removal or ice treatment equipment must be placed into operation.

KSIB radio station has been designated as the public notification media for Creston. They will be notified by fax or email from the Union County Law Center. Social media will also be used to notify the public.

A snow emergency shall not be placed into effect between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

When a snow emergency is declared, it shall not be placed in effect sooner than two hours after the first documented notification to the designated media. Once in effect it shall continue until the snow emergency is lifted. Upon removal of a snow emergency, parking will return to normal.

When a snow emergency has been declared:

Street sides where buildings bear even numbers, that is, on the south and west sides of all designated streets, parking is prohibited on all odd numbered days from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m.

Street side where buildings bear odd numbers on the north and east sides of all designated streets, parking is prohibited on even-numbered days from one 1 a.m. to 7 a.m.

Vehicles left parked in violation may be impounded with the cost of towing and storage being assessed to the owners. Vehicles parked in violation of this section shall be fined. No vehicle shall be released from the impound until all fines and fees have been paid.

Improving Creston streets

Next spring and summer, typically the time of year for street work, Creston Mayor Waylon Clayton hopes there will be a better strategy to improve more streets. In recent years, the city of Creston annually sets aside about $300,000 for for street improvement.

“That gets burned up. What was done on Elm Street took up nearly all of it,” he said last week. “We do see a couple of streets get done, but that is all the money we have.”

Clayton said he has heard people’s concerns with street conditions.

“I’d like to get tax money to the places that need it the most, where the most complaints are. How do we extend $300,000? Do we partner with the community on a 50-50, where the city pays half and the property owner pays half? That could be a way to fix issues.”

Clayton has also researched a special assessment, where only the property tax owners in a specific area receive the benefit but pay an additional tax. For example, property owners in the 100 through 800 block of Elm Street get a new street surface, but only those property owners pay the tax that funded the work. Clayton said he is not supportive of the concept.

“Special assessments leave a bad taste in people’s mouths,” he said. “I don’t want special assessments for streets.”

Regardless of how any street work is funded, Clayton desires all involved are using the same set of standards so the improved streets last. He noted portions of some streets are showing deterioration.