Blan Schools to motorists: Watch where you’re parking

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BLANCHESTER — Blanchester Schools Superintendent Dean Lynch would like you to pay attention where you’re parking when at the village’s schools.

Lynch stated at last month’s school board meeting that he had received complaints about visitors parking in emergency areas and fire lanes during events at the middle school and high school.

A few days after the meeting, he received an email from Jason Steinbeck, the Fire Safety Inspector for the Blanchester-Marion Township Joint Fire District, saying he had received another call about people parking in the fire lanes.

In his email, Steinbeck stated, “there were over 30 cars parked in the fire lane and a few parked in front of fire hydrants.”

“It’s a safety issue,” said Lynch. “It gets so crowded back there. At times it’s difficult to get an ambulance back there and practically impossible get a fire truck back there.”

Steinbeck’s email included notice of violations that would be cited to the vehicles.

He also issued the schools several orders including; replacing and/or repairing existing no parking signs and to also add signs to the field side of the driveway, paint the curbs yellow around both buildings, paint “no parking fire lane” in the driveways leading back to the fields and to the back of the buildings, and no parking fire lane signs and paint markings in front of sprinkler hookups.

All of those have been complied with, he said.

“They have someone out there monitoring the situation. So, they’re doing their due diligence and contacting me,” Steinbeck said. “We’re doing our due diligence of implementing these requirements, but it’s not taking care of the issue.”

Blanchester Police Chief Scott Reinbolt and other officers have been patrolling the area.

At a previous school event, Lynch said they ended up closing the gates and had people park in the student and staff parking lot. According to Lynch, this move helped things out tremendously, and they’ll continue to do that for future events.

If anyone should see any parking violations at the schools in the future they are asked to contact either school officials, the athletic directors, or either of the principals.

Officials provided examples of what they said are vehicles parked in prohibited areas around the middle school and high school.
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/05/web1_blan-parking-2.jpgOfficials provided examples of what they said are vehicles parked in prohibited areas around the middle school and high school. Courtesy Photos

Officials provided examples of what they said are vehicles parked in prohibited areas around the middle school and high school.
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/05/web1_blan-parking.jpgOfficials provided examples of what they said are vehicles parked in prohibited areas around the middle school and high school. Courtesy Photos

By John Hamilton

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Reach John Hamilton at 937-382-2574

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