By Paula Pyzik Scott

The Village of Ada Streets committee met on February 4 to review Ohio Revised Code section 4511.68, part 10 regarding current and future compliance with state parking requirements for fire stations. Subsequently, the Ada-Liberty Ambulance Board rescinded a letter requesting new parking limits across from the ambulance bay under construction on N. Gilbert St.

Section 4511.68 Parking - Prohibited Acts states that “No person shall stand or park a … vehicle except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or to comply with sections 4511.01 to 4511.78, 4511.99, and 4513.01 to 4513.37 of the Revised Code, or while obeying the directions of a police officer or a traffic control device, in any of the following places….” Sixteen specific conditions are listed, such as the familiar restrictions of within ten feet of a fire hydrant and within an intersection. The item pertinent to the discussion is item 10:

“Within twenty feet of a driveway entrance to any fire station and, on the side of the street opposite the entrance to any fire station, within seventy-five feet of the entrance when it is properly posted with signs.”

The minutes of the meeting (posted on p. 49 of the February 18 Council packet) show that council members Jeff Oestreich, Bob Simmons and Sheila Coressel discussed requirements with the Village administrator and police chief and found that if Gilbert St. is determined to be a fire station entrance, additional parking limitations will be required. Currently there are only parking limitations opposite the Fire Station on Main St. from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.

The letter states that “for the protection of the Village-the ORC that is being quoted should be followed in its entirety.”