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Truckers deserve respect

Treat truckers with respect


To the Editor:

This is a letter of agreement on the issue of the "truck parking dilemma." As a supporter for the "professional driver," this has gone on too long. The worst thing about it is it has been blown up into a major ordeal that did not have to become such a thing. It could have been a simple project, had the city just granted use of some of their property until a resolution had been made. Truck routing was an issue, and they allowed temporary parking at homes, until now. So where was the difference there? Now it is right back where it was two months ago. The truckers are booted back out of town, no parking spaces, no respect. It's discrimination again.

These trucks are family income. The drivers come home to spend a few days a month with family and friends. They pay their taxes here, they honor local businesses and town functions when they are home.

They don't want to cause friction with neighbors by parking on the streets in front of their homes. That rig is not what they want to see when they look out their windows, either. But, until an adequate parking space is offered to them, parking at their homes is their only choice.

Sure a couple of businesses have offered a place on Main Street for these trucks to park. It is greatly appreciated, but these drivers do not want to take up these business parking spaces and "clutter" Main Street with the "eyesore" this creates for their hometown. It's not an attractive sight for travelers or the locals.

As for the issue about weight limits on the streets, yes, they are concerned about the streets and having to park in front of their homes. If the streets start to break down, it is hard on their own personal vehicles, too. That is not what is wanted by them. Most of the time, these trucks come home unloaded so the weight is no more than the weight of the local trash trucks, Schwan's truck, occasional cement truck, or that nice pickup pulling the long camper trailer.

The 10 or 20 professional drivers who have chosen Marion as their hometown are notgetting the respect they should from their fellow Marionites. These drivers are just a few of the many professional drivers who supply America with all the commodities needed to survive. All they are asking for is a little privilege of a place to park their "home away from home" for a few days a month.

They are not deserving of the treatment that they are receiving now of "don't care, it's move it or ticket and tow bill." Some could put the truck and trailer unit in their driveways and yards and if they tear up their own yards they have to fix them, but the city won't even lift that ordinance, temporarily. The difference is no more than that of a stock trailer, RV, camper trailer, or car trailer. It would open the streets up.

This town wants to grow and bring families in, then why is it acting this way and creating the thoughts in these drivers' heads of moving to a town that offers these things? If the 10 or 20 drivers and their families move, that's 10 or 20 less families in Marion. That is not growing.

Think of the revenue loss there. Why are these drivers being made to feel punished for their chosen profession? Why can't Marion support their businesses like they support the other businesses in town?

I am not writing this article to try to create a bigger dilemma. Nor am I blaming the city of Marion or pointing a finger at anyone. I am just trying to give a full view from the professional drivers' family point of view, hoping that the townfolk of Marion could pull together for this issue as they do with all the other issues the town faces to ask for the support and respect these local drivers and their families deserve.

Is it bad to allow them the temporary, short-term parking they need until a long-term, permanent solution can be acquired? They did not do this to themselves. It was done to them by others.

Tina Ewan

Marion

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