Downtown businesses cannot prevent IPE parking, Armstrong mayor says

Armstrong’s IPE was hailed as a big success this year but parking, as always, was an issue.

Some businesses went so far as to make up signs to deter people from leaving vehicles out in front of their premises all day long.

Mayor Chris Pieper praised fair patrons after learning only three warnings were handed out to drivers over the four-day long event.

“That is unbelievable. So the people who attended the IPE have to be commended for following the rules this year,” Pieper said.

But, during the event, downtown businesses guarded street parking with signs warning the spaces were for customers only.

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One business went so far as to threaten vehicles would be towed if they stayed longer than 15 minutes.

The signs worked, as an observer noticed at one point “there were a large number of on-street parking stalls on both sides of Pleasant Valley that were unoccupied.”

Pieper said those spaces are owned by the city and they are free for all to use them.

“The businesses in town had put private parking on the street during the IPE. I understand why they want no parking in front of their businesses, but it is public property,” he said.

City council has referred the matter to the Armstrong/Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce and local businesses to come up with a solution for future events.