Parsons City Administrator /Treasurer Jason Myers, Councilman Tim Auvil and Councilman Sam Blosser view photos of Sherman Street with Parsons resident and business owner Tim Ferguson during the Parsons City Council meeting Tuesday.
PARSONS – Parsons City Council members spent more than an hour discussing a parking issue on Sherman Street.
Parsons residents and business owners Tim and Holly Ferguson wrote a letter to Council Members and spoke about their concerns with parking on Sherman Street during Tuesday’s meeting.
T. Ferguson told council members he received a certified letter and said they were there to respond to that item.
“We received a certified letter that addressed a few issues about our property on Sherman Street,” T. Ferguson said. “I understand you discussed this at your last meeting and Jason notified Holly on Facebook, but it was too late to attend (the last council meeting.) I think a lot of this could have been addressed if someone just came and talked to us in person. It is pretty simple stuff.”
T. Ferguson said they have an old building and they installed a new garage door. He said they are working on trying to fix up the building and there were two doors falling in, so they replaced them.
“Jason addressed all of the concerns about safety issues with property crimes. It’s running rampant in the town and I had an opportunity to put in a roll up garage door,” he said. “I did not realize that would require a building permit. When I realized that I came right down and got a building permit.”
T. Ferguson said he has worked in a lot of municipalities throughout the area.
“I read your ordinances on what requires a building permit and it is really vague. I would like someone to tell me what constitutes construction. Is it someone driving a nail in your door to hang a wreath or what? There is no definition and any other municipalities I work in, it is clearly defined what is construction and when a building permit is required.”
Mayor Dorothy Judy explained Parsons is working on updating their ordinances. “That will be taken care of during the update,” Judy said.
Councilman Tim Auvil said the state is requiring them to get building permits for any improvements within a community. “That is how the county bases their tax base on the value of the property,” Auvil said.
T. Ferguson said the letter also addressed him parking his construction trailers in front of a property on Sherman Avenue.
“We have been coming in and out and making it a little more usable there,” T. Ferguson said. “That is why my trucks have been there. Those are the normal construction trailers I use when I work on a construction project when I need tools there to complete the project.”
Auvil said the Council members asked the police chief to go check out where the property lines were because there had been a complaint.
“It would not have been an issue but it was a feud between neighbors,” Auvil said. “It escalated to the point where we said something has to be done because they keep complaining. If the property line is there, we have to be universal with everybody. Chief Rowe has given warnings and has made people move trailers that are parked on city property. I said we can’t do it for one and not for another. There is nothing personal. Frankly, I don’t think Council should have been involved. I agree that a certified letter should never have been sent to you. He should have walked up and asked. This has escalated way beyond where it needed to go.”
Council members asked Myers to talk to an adjacent property owner to establish his property lines so two parking spots can be graveled on the south side of Sherman Street.
Also during Tuesday’s meeting, Auvil announced the DOH is reclaiming Billings Avenue. Council announced the Easter Egg Hunt will be at 1 p.m. April 15. The Summer Concerts will include the gospel concert June 3, Michael Bonnett on July 14 and the Davisson Brothers Aug. 11.
The next Parsons City Council is slated for 6 p.m. Feb. 7 in Council Chambers.
