Albion reduces overnight parking fees at 3 village lots

ALBION – The Village Board voted to reduce the overnight parking fees at three village lots from $25 a month to $25 every three months.

These fees were raised significantly last year from $5 every three months to $25 a month.

Village Clerk Treasurer Tracy VanSkiver asked the board to look at the fees, saying the higher cost has resulted in a hardship for some of the downtown residents.

Board members said they didn’t realize there was such a steep increase in the overnight parking fees. They were approved as part of an update to the overall fee structure throughout the village.

The village has three municipal lots that allow overnight parking, as long as there is a permit from the village. The lots are on North Main Street by the Presbyterian Church, at the corner of Platt and East Bank streets, and behind the Albion Visitors Center at 121 North Main Street.

Usually about seven people take out permits for the overnight parking, VanSkiver said.

In other action at the Village Board meeting on Wednesday:

• The next village election was moved from the third Tuesday to the third Wednesday on March due to the St. Patrick’s Day holiday.

The election will be on March 18 with voting from noon to 9 p.m. in the village office. The mayor’s position and two trustees are up for election.

• Approved spending $10,750 for a new salter for the Department of Public Works.

• Approved a special use permit for the Charles W. Howard Hometown Parade on Dec. 13. Portions of the following streets will be barricaded from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.: West Bank Street, East and West State Street, Beaver Street and Chamberlain Street. The board also approved use of the larger municipal lot on South Platt Street.