RINCON — An effort to pass an ordinance that limits or prevents the parking of tractor-trailers at their owner or operator’s home has been a long haul for the Rincon City Council.
After multiple aborted attempts to craft an acceptable measure, city officials eventually enlisted the aid of a group a truckers to help them. According to City Manager John Klimm, the overture has paid dividends.
“As all of you know, we are going on almost two years where we’ve been debating this issue and trying to come up with an acceptable solution to a problem that exists but will probably grow,” Klimm said during the March 28 council meeting. “Originally, we were talking about an outright prohibition and many of the folks that have tractor-trailers that are in this industry came out and expressed serious concerns to you that we would be putting people out of business and significantly impacting an industry.”
At that point, city officials, including Klimm and City Planner Jason Stewart, investigated the possibility of having a central facility for truckers to park their vehicles. That idea drew a lukewarm response and a “working group” of truckers was formed in the following weeks.
Klimm explained, “During this whole series of debates, they said to us, ‘We will walk a mile in this (City of Rincon’s) shoes. We understand there are some issues. Put in reasonable requirements and regulations so that you can go after violators but don’t significantly impact those in the community that are just going to work and doing their job, and not impacting anybody.”
Klimm acknowledged the working group’s efforts efforts.David Christian, Sheri Swagert, Veronica King, Tamika Grubbs, Betty Mydell, Garrett Carr, Peter Johnson Jr., Franklin Johsnon and Jarrod King aided the cause.
Along with City Attorney Raymond Dickey, the working group devised a system of permitting for truckers that is still being tweaked.
“The permitting process gives the city the opportunity to take enforcement action and actually rescind permits,” Klimm said. “There would be annual permits. We could rescind them if someone acted irresponsibly.
“I think that is what the council was looking for. Maybe it took a little too long, but maybe their is a happy ending here and I applaud all of the folks who kept coming to meeting and giving input.”
A first reading of the final proposal, which will include the fee for the permit, is expected in the next few weeks. The date will be advertised in the Effingham Herald.
