Police chief says parking tickets were just a mix-up
Parking near the courthouse has once again sparked a feud between county and city officials, but police chief Joe Melton told McMinnville’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen in their regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday it was all just a misunderstanding.
The incident began last Friday when three county deputy cars received parking tickets in front of the courthouse while the officers were inside on official police business. The citations, which each carry a fine of $5, surprised Sheriff Jackie Matheny who noted deputies had parked there for years.
According to police chief Joe Melton, the situation began after a complaint was lodged concerning a deputy who had reportedly blocked a courthouse handicapped entrance.
Upon arriving at the courthouse, it was noticed by Melton and the parking enforcement officer that deputies had also parked in the 30-minute parking spaces and were over the time limit.
Melton said he instructed the parking officer to find the deputies but when he did not find them he returned to the cars and issued citations. It is still unclear if the deputies or the county will be required to actually pay the parking tickets since the deputies were on official police business.
County Executive Kenneth Rogers has said the county will refuse to pay the fines. However, it is believed the issue may be settled without fine in city court in the coming days given the apparent misunderstanding.
The tickets have prompted city officials to look closer at the needs of county officers when it comes to transporting prisoners to the courthouse. Although parking facilities are sometimes available on the side of the courthouse, those areas are generally used to deliver prisoners up a side stairway to the General Sessions courtroom. Circuit Court prisoners are often led in through the front door since it is the closest path from the parking lot to the circuit courtroom.