Last night was the Marshalltown City Council meeting and it was the 3rd and final reading over parking rules, chapter 72. This chapter talks about parking pads in backyards for boats, trailers, motorcoaches, and more. The material used to make the parking pads has been the biggest debate topic and last meeting the City Councilors voted to allow gravel to be used.

That is City Councilor Greg Nichols who previously supported using gravel. Councilor Melisa Fonseca, who changed her vote in the last meeting to support gravel, replied to Nichols’ comments.

Councilor Barry Kell did some research to the similar sized cities in Iowa to Marshalltown. He mentions Marshalltown is the 17th largest city, so he looked at the 5 cities on each side larger and smaller than Marshalltown.

Kell reminds the Councilors the recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Committee was to NOT have any parking pads. So adding some options is better than adding no options. The Council voted 5 – 2 to remove gravel from the approved materials. The Council then voted 5 – 2 to approve the ordinance. Fonseca and Ladehoff were the 2 no votes.

Zach Tomesch, News Director KFJB