By Bonnie Culverhouse
When you’ve lived in a small town all your life, you may not realize the names of some of the streets. Green Street is one of those. It really is a street, although some believe it is an alley that runs behind several Main Street businesses, such as Roma, Under Dawgs and Brick Street Coffee.
Minden City Council voted Monday to make Green a one-way street running east to west from West Union to Pine streets, while enforcing a speed limit.
“Several business owners met with us last week,” Mayor Nick Cox said, referring to District B councilman Levon “Charlie” Thomas, Public Works Director Tyler Wallace and Minden Police Chief Jared McIver.
Problems with the rather narrow through-way mostly stem from parking and dumpster issues, he said.
“The solution seems to be to make it one-way,” Cox said. “From West Union, you would turn onto Green Street toward Pine Street … so, from east to west.”
Cox said that even though that part of the solution will limit parking spaces, “the business owners said they are OK with defined spaces. It will be less parking than they have now. They won’t be designated for anybody in particular, just defined spaces.”
Wallace, he said, would have a crew stripe the area. “No Parking” signs will be erected on the south side, leaving the parking spaces strictly on the north side. The trash dumpsters would then be moved to the south side of the street.
Cox said recent parking issues could’ve meant life or death to a cardiologist’s patient.
“That car was parked so poorly, the doctor couldn’t get out in order to get to Shreveport in an emergency,” he said. “The doctor had to jump a curb in order to get out of his parking area. That’s a frequent deal.”
According to the ordinance adopted Monday by the council, violators of the flow of traffic (driving the wrong way) will be fined not more than $100 plus court costs for a first violation. For each additional violation (within one year) the fine shall be increased by $50, not to exceed a total of $250.
With parking parameters, the driver will be fined not more than $50 plus court costs for a first violation. For each additional violation the fine is increased by $25 not to exceed a total of $250.
Cox said the police department will issue warnings until the public becomes more aware of the changes.
“It’s going to take a while for folks to get used to,” said Chief McIver.
The council also voted to adopt a change to the speed limit on Green Street.
“That street does not have a speed limit sign posted,” said the mayor. “The Chief of Police has suggested a 10-mile-per-hour limit.”
