Elgin Seeking Solutions After Confusion Over Parking Spaces Near Fire Hydrant
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Officials in Elgin were trying to make sure no more motorists are confused about – or get tickets for parking in – what appear to be legitimate parking spaces next to a fire hydrant along the city's riverfront.
The actions come after a video was posted on the "What's Happening In Elgin, IL" Facebook page, pointing out the confusion.
About a year ago, Riverside Drive was beautified just north of Festival Park. As part of the project, parking indentations were built in, and marked with brick pavers – large red parking spots divided by lines of gray brick.
The hydrant in question was installed right next to a couple parking spots after new curbs and sidewalks were built, according to James Stubblefield, one of nearly two dozen people who've been tickets for parking near the hydrant.
"The way the parking spots are laid out, it's just very confusing," he said.
Friday morning, Elgin Director of Public Services Greg Rokos was at the site with Assistant Fire Chief Tim Maroder, talking about possible solutions to the problem.
"Yes, it looks like a legitimate parking space," Rokos said.
City officials have begun examining a number of possible solutions.
"We're looking at the possibility of perhaps moving the fire hydrant out of the way, or changing some of the markings in the parking area so it doesn't look like a parking spot," he said.
Those changes could include changing the brick pattern on the street, and/or painting the curb yellow near the hydrant.
Meantime, the city has temporarily placed a "No Parking" sign next to the hydrant, and an orange traffic cone in the street next to the hydrant.
Stubblefield praised the city for acting quickly after attention was drawn to the issue.
"It's just sad that it was a waste of money," Stubblefield said of the poor planning that resulted in the confusion in the first place.
Maroder said a new Elgin fire code allows hydrants to be 400 feet apart. The old code only allowed them to be 300 feet apart, and the hydrant causing all the confusion was installed under the old rule.
"We may be able to go ahead and just move this hydrant without it being an issue," he said.
Stubblefield said he went to court to fight his ticket, but ended up losing and paying a $20 fine.
"The law's the law. You have to be 15 feet away from a fire hydrant, and I knew that going into it, so I decided to just pay it," he said.