By Kellen Olshefski
Editor
The City of Elkhorn Common Council voted unanimously in favor of designating two permanent parking spots for the Elkhorn Area Chamber of Commerce and United Way in the North Lincoln Street municipal parking lot to the south of the chamber building at 203 E. Walworth St.
While drawings of the plan weren’t available – something which struck up further discussion on remaining consistent with these types of projects after the city recently approved additional handicapped stalls for St. Patrick Catholic Parish – Police Chief Joel Christensen said it was his understanding the two designated spots would be on the north side of the municipal lot, next to the two handicapped stalls.
The idea was first brought before the City of Elkhorn Municipal Services Committee at its July 27 meeting, at which time Elkhorn Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chris Clapper said cars of those taking the Badger Coach Bus to Potawatomi on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays fill up the municipal lot, providing little parking available to not only other businesses there. In addition, with East Walworth Street under construction, Clapper said she has no on-street parking at this time.
Clapper said at the July 27 meeting employees would not be parking in the stalls and they would designated for chamber and United Way visitors, signs the chamber would be willing to pay for.
Alderman Tom Myrin said at the July 27 meeting working across the street at US Bank said the lot is packed most days.
“It’s difficult to find parking space over there and with the chamber representing the city and the businesses, they should have something available,” he said.
Myrin was on vacation and not at Monday’s council meeting.
Alderman Hoss Rehberg said Monday he wanted to ensure the two parking spots would be strictly for both the chamber of commerce and the United Way, noting if the chamber were to move out of the building, as it has moved in the past, he doesn’t want to see the two spots stick with that property.
“That’s not the purpose here,” he said. “I’m just making sure that if Chris moves out, and they lease that building, they think, OK, those two spots are ours. Then we set a precedence with the buildings on the other side.”
