The Helen City Commission (HCC) has stirred up a hornets’ nest: implementing major changes in the use of city-owned downtown parking facilities with little notice and causing a major uproar on social media.
A message, itself posted on social media by the city, began with “The City of Helen wishes to advice you of something very important!
“Due to parking shortages in the City of Helen, the Helen Commission voted to make several changes to our city owned public parking.
“Effective immediately, White County residents and Helen business employees will no longer be allowed to park for free in Helen’s public paid city parking lots. Going forward, if you have a White County vehicle tag or if you are an employee in the city who parks in city owned paid parking, you will have to pay to park.
“Included are the two city lots at Edelweiss and Chattahoochee Strasse and the new lot currently under construction on Narr Weg. Also, all city parking that is free will now have a 2-hour time limit. This includes the following locations: Unicoi Hill Park, Riverside Park, Helen Library, Tannen Weg parking (close to Bigg Daddys), Narr Weg parking (close to Francescos and the apartments on Narr Weg), and all other free parking owned by the City of Helen.
“Changes will be enforced by the Helen Police Department. If you have questions, please call Helen City Hall at 706-878- 2733.”
This comes less than two weeks after Gainesville implemented a paid downtown parking program which was also met with citizen opposition: Gville’s downtown paid parking makes its debut