Ephrata won't ban tractor-trailers from parking on city's streets

EPHRATA - Ephrata will not ban the parking of large tractor-trailers on the city's streets.

Following complaints from a few residents regarding a semi-truck parked on F Street, the city council advised staff to amend the ordinance regarding street use.

City Administrator Wes Crago presented an amended ordinance to the council that would have banned trailers exceeding 28 feet long, any vehicle 8 feet or wider and 14 feet or taller and any vehicle exceeding 12,000 pounds of gross weight.

Five community members spoke for and against the ordinance.

Roger Simmons, a resident of F Street where the semi-truck occasionally parks, addressed his concerns to the council.

"It's become in our neighborhood more than just a matter of parking," Simmons said. "We've got neighbors hating neighbors... Calling people names... It's gotten totally out of hand." Simmons stated he didn't like how the issue had progressed in his neighborhood.

"I don't have anything against the people that have the truck," he said. "I just don't want a truck parked in front of my house."

Jo Maedke, of Maedke Construction, was concerned that banning larger vehicles from parking on the street would affect her business.

"I want to be certain that we're doing something that doesn't keep us from conducting business," Maedke said.

Maedke also suggested to the council that an exemption should be added for licensed contractors who are working at a job that only has street parking.

Bonnie Clark, another F Street resident, was in favor of banning oversized vehicles from parking on the street.

"I think there needs to be some protections because it's just my block, but what if it was your block?" Clark said. "What if it was every other block that had a semi-truck in front of it?"

Linda Purcell, whose husband is the driver of the truck in question, opposed the ordinance.

The couple of residents complaining alleged the truck was being parked for several days past the 72 hour limit.

Purcell brought her husband's driving logs and explained the truck was generally only parked for one day on the street.

"It does matter to have that tractor out there and it not be sitting up at the Shell station when I'm fully loaded with five families' possessions," Purcell said. Purcell also didn't like how the issue has divided her neighborhood.

"I don't want neighborhood feuds," Purcell said. "Nobody told us, nobody came and talked to us, there was no discussion."

The owner of the home where the trailer is parked, Bebe Thompson, also was opposed to changing the ordinance. Thompson explained that if Ephrata was near a large interstate truck stop that is monitored then the vehicle would be stored there.

"If there's no place for [truckers] to go then what are they supposed to do?" Thompson said.

Council member Stephanie Knitter thought it was unnecessary to adjust the current ordinance because there is already a 72 hour limit on street parking.

Mayor Pro-Tem Bruce Reim was concerned that instances like the problem on F Street are too uncommon to change code for the entire city. Crago was concerned what changing the code might mean in the future.

"A year from now, two years from now, you might be looking at exception after exception after exception in which case that's not good policy making," Crago said.

Council members William Coe and Mark Wanke were the only people who thought action should be taken.

Crago plans to make the existing ordinance more concise and easier to understand.