OXFORD, Miss. (AP) - The Courthouse Square Historic Preservation Commission has approved the basic style and color of proposed parking meters that could be installed this summer on the square.
The Oxford Eagle reported (https://bit.ly/1mYMoh5) that Matt Davis, GPS mapping coordinator for the city and head of research on paid-parking systems, presented the double- and single-headed meters to the commission this past week.
In December, meter-maker IPS Group presented three meter heads for review. All were painted black. Several commissioners said the meters should be more of a bronze color to match the railings around the Square. Davis painted one bronze and showed it to the commission on Monday.
The meters will have a decorative sleeve down the pole to resemble an old fashioned street light.
While IPS Group presented the meter models, state law requires the city to take bids for the parking equipment.
“If the city accepts a bid from another company, most of them have similar meters,” Davis said. “There is one company out there who has a very different style meter so if they are selected, we will have to go through this process again.”
Davis said the meters are more flexible than older-style coin only meters as the newer ones take credit and debit cards. They will not accept dollar bills due to a higher need of maintenance.
The commission unanimously approved the meters in bronze.
The Oxford Board of Aldermen voted recently to install parking meters in 300 spots on the square.
Davis said the city will accept bids until March and plans to have the meters in by July 1 with the system ready to go by Aug. 1.
The city will take over managing the system and is forming a parking department with a parking director, secretary and about three parking meter readers.
Some city ordinances may have to be changed to include such matters as parking fees and hours of enforcement.
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Information from: Oxford Eagle, https://www.oxfordeagle.com
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