Hospital asks for parking ban

MARENGO — The Marengo City Council is considering prohibiting parking on Lafayette Avenue south of Compass Memorial Healthcare.

The City will conduct a public hearing on the issue during its next meeting, Monday, May 8 at 6 p.m.

Compass Memorial asked the city in February to restrict parking on Lafayette during construction. The City Council preferred to prohibit parking on one side only, allowing residents to park on the west side of the street.

During the April 10 City Council meeting, Barry Goettsch, Compass chief executive officer, again asked the city to prohibit parking on Lafayette between West Main and West May Streets to alleviate congestion and prevent unsafe traffic situations.

Jim Peterson, who lives on Lafayette, objected to the proposal in February and repeated his objections during the April 24 meeting.

“I’m still against it,” said Peterson. He asked the council members to imagine that they live on that street when they vote.

“I’ve lived there 50 years, and I’ve never seen an accident on that street,” said Peterson, even when cars lined the street for American Legion Bingo and dances or for wedding receptions.

The American Legion has moved, and that property could be used to make the road wider, Peterson said. “Just move that road over three feet.”

“I also live on Lafayette,” said Nicole Folkmann. “I’ve been there 12 years. I personally have three vehicles.”

Folkman said that asking her to keep all the vehicles in her driveway poses an inconvenience. She asked if she’d be able to use the hospital parking lot.

“We do need something for the residents on Lafayette,” said Folkman.

“I’m dead against taking parking away from these people,” said Councilman Travis Schlabach. He’s willing to prohibit parking on the west side, but not on the east.

Schlabach suggested widening the street using property formerly owned by the American Legion to make room for parked cars and widening the intersection to mitigate safety issues.

Widening the intersection would cost the city about $20,000, said Public Works Director Lonnie Altenhofen.

Councilman John Hinshaw said he lived on Main Street and wasn’t able to park in front of his home. “We figured it out,” he said. The family parked on other streets or in an alley.

About 75% of people can’t park on the streets in front of their houses, said Hinshaw. “I’m not trying to sound harsh,” he said, but people just have to figure it out.

Schlabach said it's not fair to ask people to change their parking habits after the fact. “She could park there when she bought [the house],” he said of Folkman.

(Edited to correct the spelling of the name of the Compass CEO.)