No parking on Broad during Yule parade

The Cairo City Council voted unanimously Monday night to restrict parking on Broad Street during next Thursday’s edition of the Cairo Christmas Parade.
The board of directors of the Cairo-Grady County Chamber of Commerce, which is one of the main sponsors of the parade, requested the city limit parking on Broad Street during the parade.
Issues with safety and visibility were noted in the chamber’s request.
Traditionally, parking has been allowed and often times parade watchers park vehicles early and then watch the parade from the vehicle or around them. However, local officials say that parked vehicles cause parade-goers to gather in the street, clogs the sidewalks and often times results in small children darting out in front of parade units.
“I think it is a good idea,” Councilman Bobby Gwaltney said Monday night.
Mayor Richard VanLandingham said by restricting motor vehicles there will be more room for citizens to set up folding chairs.
The council’s action will prohibit parking on Broad Street between 2nd Ave. at Roddenbery Memorial Library and down to First United Methodist Church on both sides of the street.
Mayor Pro Tem Ernest Cloud asked how the city would enforce the restricted parking and City Manager Chris Addleton said Police Chief Keith Sandefur had recommended erecting temporary signs advising citizens of the restrictions and to post no parking after 5 p.m.
The chief also recommended any vehicle that parks in the restricted zone after 5 p.m. next Thursday be towed at the owner’s expense.
City Attorney Thomas L. Lehman recommended the city place orange traffic cones at frequent intervals to outline the no parking area which would also designate the boundaries for how far parade-goers could go into the street.
Councilman James H. (Jimmy) Douglas made the motion to restrict the parking on Broad Street for next Thursday night’s parade and Councilman Gwaltney seconded the motion. All councilmen voted in favor of the change.
At the mayor’s suggestion, the city will erect the temporary signs on Monday to give citizens ample notice of the temporary parking restrictions.