The City of Indianola has no immediate plans to start issuing permits for big rigs parking in residential areas.
City resident Leon Minniefield appeared before the board of aldermen during last Thursday night’s meeting, asking to see an ordinance that forbids him from parking his truck, even absent a trailer, in his driveway.
“There is an ordinance against it,” said Ward 3 Alderman Ruben Woods.
Woods noted that the ordinance forbids any vehicle over 1 ton from parking in residential areas.
Current Public Works Director and former City Inspector Elvis Pernell told the board the ordinance originated when Love’s Truck Stop first announced plans to open.
“The city invited every truck driver in town to a meeting,” Pernell said.
The city then offered to grandfather in any truck driver at the time by issuing a one-time permit.
“Sixteen applied for a permit,” Pernell said, noting the number of permit holders had dwindled down to about three when he transferred out of the inspection department.
Minniefield was not happy with the board’s explanation, nor was he thrilled when they said they had no intention of changing the ordinance so that he could obtain a similar permit.
Ward 1 Alderman Gary Fratesi told Minniefield that he could have the truck parked in his driveway, so long as it got there by way of a helicopter.
Mayor Ken Featherstone told Minniefield that according to the current ordinance, if he had a big truck parked in his driveway, it was not there legally.
No board action was taken on this matter.
