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Commission discusses Washington Street parking lots: kiosk option, billing and enforcement concerns
Summary
Commissioners reviewed use and management of three Washington Street parking lots, debating kiosk installation, employee-designated spaces, how unpaid parking would be billed and whether the county would be responsible for enforcement under the current vendor arrangement. No formal action was taken; staff will return with more details.
At its June 18 meeting, the Harrison County Commission reviewed options for three Washington Street parking lots that had been intended for public and employee parking, and commissioners raised questions about payment methods, vendor enforcement responsibilities and potential kiosk installation.
The agenda item was listed as Commissioner Hinkle's. Commissioners and staff reported a mismatch between the commission's expectations and the current vendor arrangement: under the contract as described in the meeting record, the vendor compiles license plate photographs and provides a list to the commission office for billing, rather than allowing on-site payment at a kiosk. County staff said the original plan envisioned an on-site kiosk or pay station because some users prefer not to use an app.
Commissioners asked whether a kiosk could be installed; staff reported the vendor said it could add a kiosk "for a couple thousand more." Commissioners also discussed options to allow users to enter a license plate and credit-card number at a kiosk, to provide cash payment, and to use an arm/gate for employee-only spaces. Several commissioners and staff emphasized that the county office did not expect to be left with responsibility to track down unpaid motorists without clearer enforcement terms in the contract.
No formal motion or vote was taken on the parking-lot item at the meeting. Commissioners requested more information from the vendor and from county administration about payment options, kiosk costs and enforcement procedures and agreed to revisit the item at a later meeting (commissioners mentioned returning the item in about six months).
The discussion also touched on revenue expectations from the lots and the importance of signage or gated control to reserve employee spaces. County staff said that, under the vendor's current process, the county office receives license-plate lists and is responsible for identifying vehicle owners and sending bills; several commissioners said that was not the arrangement they had envisioned when the lots were acquired.
Staff will bring back details on kiosk specifications, costs and enforcement options for the commission's consideration.
