Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on January 17, 1951.
First Receipts From Meter Boxes Are Being Tabulated
First coin collection for the more than 300 parking meters now in operation in the business district was made today and was to be counted this afternoon.
City Clerk-Treasurer E.J. Cotterman will be in charge of counting the pennies and nickels which will be done in the First State Bank. Beginning of this duty will mark a return to work for Cotterman who was taken ill six months ago, since which time Mrs. Howard Moltz, deputy clerk-treasurer, has been in charge of the office in city hall.
A counting-sorting-packaging machine and a two-wheel collector unit were given to the city by the Karpark corporation.
Police Chief Vernon Reibly reported that a number of motorists have inserted dimes in the meters and complained that the meters were not working properly. Reibly explained that the meters take only pennies and nickels, and that the time indicator will not register when dimes are inserted. Surveys taken in other cities have revealed that meters of the penny-nickel variety yield about four times as many pennies as five-cent pieces.
Mayor Elden Kuehl commented today that from his observations he believes the meters “have helped the parking situation a lot.”
City officials have not indicated as yet when regular enforcement will go into effect. City police issued 175 warning tickets Monday and Tuesday, the first two days of the trial period for the meters.
In addition to the 67 meters which are still to be placed in dirt bases, several others have not been put into operation as yet in locations where the standards must be made fast to the ceilings of basements which run under the walks, Chief Reibly explained.
