A motion to approve an ordinance to remove four parking spaces on the east side of Main Street for the Carroll County jail project failed to pass through the Carroll City Council Monday night on a vote of three to three. City Manager, Mike Pogge-Weaver, said Wednesday it is now up to the county to come back and request anything further or to make modifications to the plans that would remove one entrance. He added, they have made it known to the county they need to meet about those revised plans.
Some comments have been brought to Carroll Broadcasting by county residents that Monday’s vote appeared to be more about stopping the jail project than addressing the parking issues. Pogge-Weaver was asked to comment on that viewpoint.
However, the building permit that Pogge-Weaver references is not what was presented to the Carroll County Supervisors. The document they received, an approved copy of the building permit application, did not include any special conditions. When asked about the discrepancy, Pogge-Weaver said a different document had been sent to the contractor, Badding Construction.
Pogge-Weaver was also asked why a copy of those conditions was not discussed or forwarded to any of the supervisors; especially in light of the fact that they were working with the city on the streetscape and were the only ones who could take action on what Pogge-Weaver said was stated on the permit.
Later in the day, another question was raised when a small line on that permit application came to light. Above the approval signature, it simply states, “When properly approved below this is your permit.” Carroll Broadcasting has reached out to Pogge-Weaver and City Attorney, Dave Bruner for an explanation, but as of this airing no response has been received. A copy of that permit and copies of what Pogge-Weaver said was sent to Badding can be found below. In that streetscape plan, the county was asked to take steps based on recommendations made by Bolton & Menk, who the city hired to conduct a traffic study. The city wanted changes made to remedy the possibility that vehicles could, at times, be on the sidewalk and/or partially out into Main Street by cantilevering (recessing) the doors. The Shive-Hattery letter, dated Aug. 6, says the county agreed to make that alteration to the overhead doors and reduce the size of the Sally port inside for separate entry and exit points. Pogge-Weaver was asked if the county needs to adhere to the recommendations in the streetscape plan in light of Monday’s vote.
Pogge-Weaver said they will stick by this recommendation, even though the last words of that quote are nearly identical to arguments used about the safety to be gained in removing the four parking spaces. Carroll County resident, Virginia Hagemann, has also asked at a public meeting how many parking spaces, if any, were eliminated during all the different streetscape phases over the years. Pogge-Weaver said he will try to gather that information. Carroll Broadcasting reached out to Supervisor Chair, Neil Bock, who said they will refrain from commenting at this point. Supervisors will enter into a closed session at their Monday, Sept. 30 meeting, at 9 a.m. at the courthouse, and will have a comment for the press shortly thereafter. Links to Wednesday’s stories and a recording of the permit discussion with Pogge-Weaver can also be found below.
Articles as the story unfolded Wednesday:
Live interview with Pogge-Weaver
Shive-Hattery letter (click two times to bring to full size)
Copy of documents Pogge-Weaver says were sent to Badding Construction (click two times on images to bring to full size)
