| Angelia Crowther accepts the Visionary Service Award from Mayor Joe Piccolo on behalf of Ethan Migliori of the College of Eastern Utah. |
Tight downtown parking and recognition of one of the city’s leading business development specialists were the chief issues discussed during Price City’s council meeting Wednesday.
Officials within the Price council have been in negotiations for more than a month trying to decide whether they should rewrite the city’s downtown parking ordinance or amend the current law.
A small contingency of downtown business personnel were in attendance at the meeting inquiring as to whether or not they should begin placing signs along Main Street. The signs would instruct business owners and employees to be courteous and park in the back of their establishments allowing more parking for customers wishing to frequent the downtown area.
The council had been considering a two hour limit on downtown parking. That idea however, was met with opposition from several councilmembers including Kathy Hanna-Smith, who stated that such a requirement would not leave enough time for customers to fully enjoy all that Main Street has to offer.
Any formal decision on the signs or changes to the ordinance was postponed as councilmember Hanna-Smith was not in attendance and not able to report her findings.
Issues brought on by overnight downtown parking include:
•Problems with snow removal.
•Problems with street sweeping.
•And lost business due to lack of parking.
Downtown parking was brought to the forefront when renovation plans for the Newhouse Hotel became a realistic and impending endeavor.
“There are many issues coming from the downtown business owners,” said Price Mayor Joe Piccolo in an earlier meeting. “But in my opinion this won’t be the last time we will have parking issues on Main Street. Many other businesses will be coming into that area of our city and some of them may be apartments. We are going to see what we can do as a city to make parking available downtown.”
Councilmember Richard Tatton requested that when Hanna-Smith returns the city should detail the verbiage that would go on the downtown signs. Possibly as a legal motion from the city.
The issue was formally tabled until Hanna-Smith could make her report at the next meeting.
One of the reasons downtown has become so busy is the tireless efforts of Carbon County’s economic development community. Price city recognized one of its leaders Wednesday in Ethan Migliori.
Ethan received the city’s Visionary Service Award for his work with the Southeast Applied Technology College which has been encompassed by the College of Eastern Utah.and for his personal commitment to economic development in projects ranging all over the Castle Valley.
The award thanks those for “assisting to make Price City a progressive, friendly community and their dedication to excellence in service. For upholding high professional standards, being and honest, involved and a responsible citizen, creating a clean, friendly and pleasant environment and having a progressive approach to build local business and economy. For being a leader who listens to customers and understands their needs, finding solutions to local problems and preserving our rich cultural heritage and diversity.”
Migliori’s Next Level class has been used by many local entrepreneurs to get their business off the ground. He has also participated in the custom fit training program which provides business specific training to those wishing to bring new economic growth to Castle Valley.