Rhino’s Ramblings - Free Parking (Copy)

By Robert Thomas Opinion/Commentary

If there ever was an indicator about the true shape of Moose Jaw it has to be the parking in the downtown core.

It’s a story of broken meters, missing cash and a lack of enforcement - both for people damaging the meters and drivers not plugging the meters.

It’s an utter and complete mess. It’s some sort of Wild West movie where a metal pole stuck in the sidewalk is a robbery target.

Rumours are abundant it’s now gotten so bad a large percentage of drivers are no longer plugging the meters or using the app but quite simply risking a ticket.

I tried this past week to find out how many parking Commissionaires are actually working on parking through the Moose Jaw Police Service. But alas I could not get an answer.

I have been told by someone in the know that they are down to one Commissionaire on a part-time basis working to downtown on the meter patrol.

I tried it off and on during the week to see if I could track down this legendary parking meter officer, but was unable to find them. I have no idea when Ernest is working

I was unable to track the lone Commissionaire down.

A broken parking meter on Manitoba Street West - MJ Independent photo

One needs to think back 20 years ago and head Commissionaire Grover was on the beat. The man with a pencil in his holster and a saddle bag full of ticket books.

The city in its time of cash shortages had Grover on a mission ready to write tickets with five minutes left on the meter.

He was that fast and that efficient.

Not to what the system has fallen into today.

I often think how long would it take Grover to whip the parking situation we have today into shape. How many ticket books would we need to do it?

It’s something an app can’t tell you.

With there being no funding in the upcoming budget to fix the parking meter problem it won’t be until the 2027 budget it seems.

That is unless Council moves some money around in a bid to fix the meters.

I’m just waiting to see how much down the parking meter money is going to be reported in this years budget.

If it turns out to be a repeat offender that is damaging and/or destroying the parking meters and they aren’t from Moose Jaw maybe the City can ask the Crown to request a sentence that bans them from here.

As some in the business community tell me it’s time to send Moose Jaw’s problems back to where they came from.

But until the City makes moves to fix the problem and put more staff out on it simply carry on.

Walk up to the meter. Pretend you’re plugging it and carry on risking a $20 fine.

The odds right now are on your side.