Coming up with solution to limited Downtown Parking

By GREG SCELLIN
Signal Editor

The vast majority of the nearly 20 people in attendance at the June 16 regularly-scheduled Geneva City Council meeting were there for the agenda topic “Consideration of Downtown Parking.” And, oddly enough, the East Bull Pen was a hot topic.
Fillmore County Supervisors Ralph Graham, Mark Lightwine and Larry Cerny were in attendance. Graham and Lightwine shared their thoughts. Geneva Mayor Cody Lightwine started the discussion off.
He said, the city council’s Infrastructure Committee has came up with the idea of closing off the north entrance into the East Bull Pen and adding, hopefully, eight additional angle parking spots on the south end of main street across from the soon-to-be Geneva Senior Center. The committee also suggested to continue adding more cleaned concrete chips in the bull pen and working them into the bad spots there.
Graham commented, the county board is willing to help however the city decides. Questions and comments about the city’s lease with the county for the bull pens took place, along with the notion that the county has no need for the bull pens. The thought of tearing out the existing concrete and paving the bull pens was also brought up.
“We don’t have the money,” Councilman Joe Casey said. “I can’t see raising taxes for that…to do anything sizable there it’s $500,000. The city is not going to take on the burden.”
The bull pens were paved in 1974. Through the years, their uses have changed. A few argued that businesses were ran out of the bull pens, including a junking business. They also mentioned the semi-tractor trailers that parked in the bull pens were too big and heavy and the pavement was never designed for that kind of weight.
It appeared the general consensus of the city council was to add the additional parking spots across from the senior center and keep adding product in the bull pens.
“Let’s get on with what we’re doing and look at it again,” Casey said.
Councilwoman Joni Karcher said, adding six to eight parking spots by the senior center with a curb to the north in the East Bull Pen could be a good answer to the potential need for more parking.
In other meeting notes:

• Ronnie Wilson pointed out that a framed copy of the U.S. Constitution was on the wall in the council chambers.
• Geneva City Administrator Kyle Svec commented that city workers have begun spraying for mosquitoes three times per week—Monday and Wednesday nights and Friday mornings. “We will continue to do so until September,” Svec said. “We are doing our best.” Alleys are also covered during the spraying times.
  He said, Patchmaster has been in the city working on pavement break ups. Gravel roads will also receive attention.
• Two sizable bond payments were made by the city recently. “Debt continues to fall,” Geneva Mayor Cody Lightwine said.
• Steve Parr with JEO went over the city’s One and Six Year Road Plan. The mill and overlay project on the R Street entrance is expected to begin in October. The entrance into Geneva past the hospital was discussed, along with main street west.
  “My opinion is, for the most part, your streets are in pretty good shape,” Parr said.