Video: Starkville Parking Enforcement Officer

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The city of Starkville is again putting in place and enforcing a two hour parking limit on it’s downtown streets.

People parked in the center of downtown Starkville are already preparing for the new parking enforcement officer as she makes her daily rounds Monday through Friday.

“And we’re going to see if this will help alleviate some of the trouble that we’ve had with people that are parking in that area all day in violation of this limit,” said Chief David Lindley, Starkville Police.

“I think it will keep traffic going. Customers can be in and out, they will have access to park right in front of the store they would like to go into,” said Kim Taylor, Ooooh La La Boutique.

The central downtown business area that includes Washington, Lafayette, Jackson, and Main Streets are going to be closely monitored for violators of a limited parking time that was used some ten years ago.

It’s now back and people are encouraged to utilize free and available downtown public parking lots.

“Which could be tickets up to and including wheel locking and towing of vehicles on repeat violators and we certainly hope we don’t have to do any of that. But we are prepared to do it if we have to,” said Lindley.

The loss of business from customers not being able to park up close has been a source of frustration for some Starkville merchants.

“Definitely, they complain and say they have to park a mile away, or they have to circle the block a few times. So it’ll be nice not to hear that,” said Taylor.

“This is a consignment shop and we do appointments three times a day here. So when we have our consignment to come in and bring baby beds and everything like that, it is very difficult for them to find a parking spot,” said Lashaunda Bobbet, store manager.

“Growing city, its part of the revitalization of downtown. We’re proud that downtown is being active and demanding more parking now,” added Lindley.

That two hour parking limit is between 8 and 5pm, Monday through Friday.