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Will Lapeer County give the City of Lapeer $4,000 annually for 15-18 permit-only parking places for Lapeer County Senior Center members?

An informal agreement for daytime parking was offered by the city to the seniors following months of pleading by members over the lack of close parking at the senior center, located in the Lapeer County Annex. The county owns the senior's building while the city owns the parking lot and enforces two hour parking limits.

"We were always told that the city couldn't give us any spaces because the businesses would object," said Bonnie Kavalunas, of Lapeer. "Well they don't."

Kavalunas, senior program board member Lee Scott and Lapeer Senior Center member Leon Trojanowski circulated a petition throughout the downtown business district that would be affected by a decrease in daytime parking. Everyone they approached signed.

"I don't think the seniors should even have to ask," said Abruzzo's Piano Grill owner Tony Abruzzo. "The seniors deserve to be able to park where they can access their building. I'm fed up with parking in this city, and fed up with the meters. Paying a ticket while visiting the senior center or a local business puts a bad taste in your mouth for years. We want people to visit Lapeer."

"I don't have any problems with giving them extra time," said Book Shelf manager Marji Peet. "People of all ages in downtown Lapeer is a plus. It seems like parking will always be an issue in this city."

Signatures were also obtained at Harry's Sports Cards, Treasure Isle, Lapeer Lingerie, Grondins, Gold Rush Jewelers, and Nowak, Poniatowski and Morgan.

The three brought the petition to Lapeer City Manager Dale Kerbyson, and he worked out a plan.

"I think it's a great solution. The seniors would have between 15-18 permit only parking spots, the first two rows in the lot, closest to the annex building," Kerbyson said. "The city will enforce parking regulations in the designated permit only area, but the seniors will keep track of the permits and keep track of who has them. That way those who need to park the closest will have them."

"If it can be worked out, seniors will have a dedicated place to park that's close and convenient," said Lapeer Police Chief Todd Alexander. "The city would take care of the maintenance, the striping and the snow removal. It's a good compromise."

But the $4,000 price tag, about $1 each day per space, may be a little steep for the county, who is struggling with rising costs in its millage funded senior budget. The bulk of that money is used to pay for senior in-home care such as meals and home chores.

"It is a good solution," said Lapeer County Commissioner Cheryl Clark. "We do have some money left over, but we were counting on years one, two and three of the millage to pay for years four, five and six. The costs of the in-home meals and the chores are really rising."

"The feeling is that it's a little to high," said Lapeer Senior Board Chairman Dennis Emery. "My thinking is that the city could offer the seniors a little more."

The in-house programs are important, but so is the center, said Kavalunas.

"Seniors are living a lot longer, and the senior center keeps everyone young," she said. "Using it gets you out of the house, and the will put off the need for in-house meals."

The offer is a good negotiation start for the city and the county, said Scott.

"It's a temporary solution to a problem that affects use of the center," he said. "If it comes to it, paying for parking is cheaper than building a new center."

Seniors plan to ask county commissioners to foot the parking bill at the Thursday Lapeer County Commission meeting. The matter could be referred to the May 15 Committee of the Whole meeting where it can be placed on the agenda.

Susan Younger may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8122 or susan.younger@lapeergroup.com.