Damaged Parking Meters to Cost Taxpayers $15,000

Parking meters along Main Street in Whitehorse (Photo courtesy of City of Whitehorse)

Councillor Jan Stick says she found the stolen parking meters still filled with coins in a forested area near Riverdale last weekend.

Councillor Jan Stick  described her account at city council on Monday about finding multiple stolen parking meters around Riverdale last weekend that were still filled with coins

Stick says after calling for assistance,  the meters were taken out of the forested area where she was walking and placed in their proper storage area.

"A friend and I came across a lot of parking meters that had been destroyed, including  the poles that they were on. There were approximately 20 that we discovered in the woods. For one, I was shocked by this. I couldn't believe it. (After), one of the bylaw officers and myself dragged them out of the woods and he took them back to the sign shop." 

City Manager of Recreation Services Jeff' O Farrell says it will cost thousands of dollars to replace many of the damaged meters.

"A double-meter head in place with all costs in runs about $1500. A single-meter head is about a $1000. The meters that went missing earlier this winter discovered over this past weekend were a combination of double-meter heads and single-meter heads. The cost (to replace) them is in the neighborhood of $15,000."

It's expected costs will exceed that amount after fresh cement is placed around the meters and after staff are paid to install the new meters.

While the thieves weren't able to extract any of the coins, Stick says it might be time to look at other parking payment options in the city following the ordeal.

 

 

 

 

 

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