Loophole closed on truck traffic ordinance

by Dolores Hamilton
Owners of tractor trucks need to be aware of the city’s ordinance prohibiting truck traffic outside of designated truck routes.

Monday the Iowa Park City Council amended the Code of Ordinances to clarify the prohibition of truck traffic off designated truck routes. The action closes a loophole that has allowed some tractor trucks to park within residential areas off of public right-of-ways. The code defined truck traffic as a combination of a tractor truck and a trailer.

The amended ordinance changes the definition to include a tractor truck by itself. The ordinance also defines the point of origin and point of destination and stipulates that neither can be used as a place to leave the tractor truck and/or trailer if it is inside a residential zone. City Manager Mike Price said that the ordinance helps to ensure that all unnecessary truck traffic is off the streets that are not built to handle the heavy loads.

Violations of the ordinance could result in fines of up to $200 per day.

Price told the council that the city allows trucks to be parked overnight at the old Barber pipe yard on West Highway. He said they hoped to add electrical plugs that would benefit the owners in cleaning their trucks.

In other business the council approved the replat of Lot 3 in Block 22-A of the First Addition. The property, located at N. Pacific and 287 Access Road, is owned by the Iowa Park Industrial Development Corporation. The group is in the process of selling it to a nationally-known fast food chain.

Chad Ignagni, with Adams Engineering that represents the food chain, was at Monday’s meeting to answer questions from the council members. Councilwoman Sherrie Williams asked when work would begin,and he replied that they should be ready to go in about two months.

An election was called for Saturday, May 9, for Places 1,3 and 5 on the council. The places are now occupied by Ray Schultz, Sherrie Williams, and Dan Fears, who will be up for re-election.

A public hearing was held to determine if a structure on North Pacific is substandard and should be abated. The council was informed that the structure, a mobile home, will be taken by representatives from Camp Chaparral, and moved. Council members approved, saying it should be moved out within 30 days.

In other action the council approved advertising for bids for concrete work in conjunction with the city’s street rebuild projects, and passed a resolution endorsing certain legislative changes to enhance the competitive electric market.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mayor Joe Ward recognized Iowa Park Patrol Officer Jimmy Skinner, who has received his Masters certification from TCLEOSE, and two Iowa Park High School students, James Fowler and Shane Freeman, who participated in the job shadowing program by spending last Thursday at the Iowa Park Police Department.

Ward also recognized Councilwoman Williams, who received a certificate of recognition from the Texas Municipal League for completing 42 hours or more of city council training.