Shep Brown's Parking lot not plowed for the Derby

[Mink Islander]

I drove up today to settle in for the Derby this weekend and was shocked to find that nearly all of the Public Parking at Shep Brown's remains unplowed from the last storm. Come Saturday morning, there's going to be a real problem when folks show up to get on the lake there and discover there's nowhere to park. You'd think the town of Meredith would be doing all it can to help make the Derby a big success. Not plowing that lot is a major oversight.

[secondcurve]

The town's snow budget is likely depleted or about to be so. It's been a difficult winter. We can't have low taxes and unlimited services. I have a feeling a little extra snow on a parking lot is going to be a small cutback compared to other cutbacks we will eventually see. Good luck in the derby!

[Mink Islander]

The Derby is a (read THE) major economic event for Meredith in the winter. Sheps is one of the primary places people get on the ice at that end of the lake. I think Meredith's budget could suffer the hour's work to clear the public parking lot. Agree it's tough times, but this is a mistake. If they want to leave it buried after this weekend from subsequent snowstorms, that would be a reasonable cost saving decision, IMO.

[RLW]

The Derby is a (read THE) major economic event for Meredith in the winter. Sheps is one of the primary places people get on the ice at that end of the lake. I think Meredith's budget could suffer the hour's work to clear the public parking lot. Agree it's tough times, but this is a mistake. If they want to leave it buried after this weekend from subsequent snowstorms, that would be a reasonable cost saving decision, IMO.

Question??? Is it private property and if it is most towns are not allowed to plow private property and insurance is a very large factor in the no plowing non town property.:)

[Mink Islander]

I'm 99% sure the parking lot is owned by the town as is the boat ramp there (since the town charges launch fees). I remember a few years ago one of the Selectmen was talking about limiting parking to a certain number of hours. If the town didn't own it, it couldn't regulate its use, right? Indeed Sheps mildly discourages those of us who rent slips from using that lot and now provides other ancillary parking along the road for slip renters to take some of the pressure off that lot. A local Meredith resident may have better insight, but I'm highly confident the town owns/controls that lot.

Also, in the 20+ years I've been here, I've never seen the lot at least 50% plowed. As it is now, once a few vehicles grab what little room there is, you won't even be able to turn around with a trailer. Going to make for a frustrating morning for many, I suspect.

[fatlazyless]

From the Dept of Useless Info, www.visionappraisal.com shows the parking lot as 1.02 acres of vacant open land, with an assessed value of $1,112,500 which includes the docks. It is owned by the town and known as Lovejoy Sands Public Landing, and is located at 30 Lovejoy Sands Rd.

The boat ramp has two lanes with the left belonging to the town, and the right to Shep Brown's.

Just think, after it gets plowed, you get a million dollar parking spot and for free....w:)w!

[rick35]

I agree with Mink Islander about the town owning the lot. I can't believe the town can't be bothered to plow as the Derby is a big draw to the town. I couldn't guess as to how much it helps the local businesses but I suspect it is significant.

What I could never figure out is how much of the ramp is owned by the town. It is deeper on the side closest to Brown's and is easier to haul out especially in the fall when the level is low. Brown's frequently parks their tractor in front of that side so launching is difficult.

Parking has always been an issue for us as Bear Island property owners depend on being able to park and tie up there. Brown's made some of their lot available to the AMC a few years ago which greatly relieved the issue but I wonder how many Mark and Mink island residents park there. I understand both islands are part of Gilford which has its own docks and parking but it is closer and more convenient to use the Meredith dock and lot at Browns and at the Cattle Landing. Tieing up at Brown's isn't too bad but it can be impossible at the Cattle Landing especially when trying to pick up or drop people off.

As a Meredith property owner I'd be very much in favor of more car and boat parking interest on the part of the town. I'd like to see some preference given to Meredith property owners during the peak summer months (and I'd like to keep Gilford residents out of the public dock and lot) but I also realilze that Meredith depends on visitors to help keep the local economy going. Restrictions at the town lots and docks could hurt that. Failing to do something as simple as plowing a lot for the Derby has the same impact. Hopefully it was just an oversight.

Rick