The LaGrange Police Department has begun enforcing the two-hour time limit for parking downtown.

This was at the request of the merchants and the DLDA. Each parking space is worth $250 per day if that space is rotated as it should be. Be fair, if you are not shopping, eating or spending any money downtown, please use the off street parking. With the economy as it is, these merchants need that parking space to make a living. I had a vested interest in a business on Main Street for many years (Mike’s Grill). We had customers call on the phone and say we cannot find a parking space. People would ask to have their orders filled and bring it to them on the street when they drove up. (We did) After the lunch hour, we could walk out onto the sidewalk and count 10 to 15 cars that belonged to those who worked in the downtown area and they parked there all day.It would have been nice to have those spots for our customers. When you have a vibrant downtown, parking is a must. I go to the gym three-to-four days a week. If I will be there after 9 a.m., I use off -street parking. All of us want to park in the front door at our destination. Parking is not my problem, but walking is. Remember it’s Christmas (be nice) and use off-street parking.

Bobby Traylor

City Council

DLDA member