The Mt. Airy Town Council held off on approving its no through truck ordinance but did approve its new software agreement during its Monday meeting.
Last month, Mayor Ray McAllister brought forward a draft ordinance for the council to consider. He told the council that what the town was having trouble with and receiving complaints about were large truck parking on the right-of-way. He added that the large trucks were parking where they didn’t actually have a place to park, particularly in some of the subdivisions.
He asked the council to review it so they could make changes and potentially pass the second reading of the ordinance this month.
During Monday’s meeting, McAllister asked the council if there were any changes or issues with the ordinance. He said that the ordinance states that trucks with a destination point could drive through the subdivisions such as a delivery service. He also stated that there isn’t much the city could do for those that park on their own property.
Council member Adam Tullis had an issue with the wording related to the overnight parking section of the ordinance. “The way the ordinance reads it says you can’t park on your own property. That’s why I’m not for it,” he said. Tullis read the section of the ordinance where it stated there would be no overnight parking. “It sounds like a man can’t park his own truck in his own driveway,” he said.
McAllister recommended that the council discuss the ordinance further and possibly have a workshop to address any changes and look at passing the ordinance at a later date.
Software
Police Chief Jaime Bowden addressed the council about the software agreement. He said that it was actually a renewal of what the police department and court already had. He explained that the current agreement was a year or so overdue, and this was the new agreement.
Bowden explained that the company has changed their name from Courtware to Justice One. Though the name has changed, the company provides the same service. Justice One provides records management, citation management, and court management for law enforcement agencies and courts.
McAllister pointed out to the council that Bowden had negotiated with the company to keep costs down. The company originally had submitted an increase for the service.
Bowden explained that the cost is now $300 monthly plus $11 per citation. However, the cost per citation will be passed on to the offender.
He also told the council that the town had applied for a $10,000 technology grant through the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety that could help pay for some of the cost, as well as computer equipment for the police department.
The council approved the software agreement unanimously.
