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Morgan County Commission approves use of William Street lot as free visitor parking
Summary
After a resident presentation and a local volunteer offer to clear debris, the commission voted to designate a county-owned lot on William Street as free public parking and accepted an offer to assist with tree clearing; work will start as a low‑cost, nonpermanent effort and staff will coordinate logistics.
The Morgan County Commission voted June 17 to designate a county-owned lot on William Street for free public visitor parking after hearing from resident Pete Moss and discussing logistics and community benefit.
Moss told the commission the small lot adjacent to the county park and the old B&O train depot lacks adequate, designated parking and includes potholes and erosion that deter visitors. He said converting the lot to a clearly marked visitor parking area could increase foot traffic to nearby businesses and make the park easier to find for tourists.
The commission discussed lot dimensions and practical limits for an initial conversion. A local donor offered to clear debris and contribute gravel for a compacted parking surface so the county can test the lot as a nonpermanent parking facility before investing in larger improvements. The board instructed facilities staff to evaluate the lot, signage needs and hours of use and also discussed measures to discourage overnight camping.
A motion to approve use of the William Street lot as free public parking and to accept the volunteer offer to clear select trees and debris passed on a voice vote.
Why it matters: The change is intended to make a nearby walking park and downtown attractions more accessible to visitors without committing the county to a substantial capital project. Commissioners framed the action as an incremental, low-cost step staf can monitor and adjust.
Commission action and next steps: The commission approved the request and asked county maintenance staff to work with the volunteer donor to prepare the lot, install basic signage and set enforceable parking hours. The commission emphasized that the initial conversion is intended as a minimal, reversible change rather than a permanent redevelopment of the parcel.
