Several Salisbury Street business owners expressed concern at the Wadesboro Town Council's meeting Monday about the Wadesboro police chief's plan to discourage parking on the sidewalks and along the street.

"This is going to kind of jam us up," Rufus Gainey said.

He said people had been parking this way for a long time.

Chief Janie Schutz assured him she was not trying to be difficult. She said she knew how important a vibrant business community was, especially in these difficult economic times.

Schutz has previously stated parking on sidewalks forced handicapped citizens to travel in the road. She also believes parking on the street is illegal but so far has instructed her officers not to issue citations.

As part of her effort, she contacted the Department of Transportation to see if the road was wide enough to place spaces. The department regulates U.S. 74 and therefore Salisbury Street.

On Sept. 9, an engineer from the department met with an officer to measure portions of the road in front of three barber shops on Salisbury Street, along with a residence.

"As you can see, none of these locations meet our current standard," Barry S. Moose, division engineer, said in a Sept. 14 letter, after relating the measurements.

The letter said in 2007 the road was traveled by an average of 28,000 vehicles each day.

"Due to the high volume of traffic, the amount of heavy truck traffic, and lane widths that do not meet our on-street parking requirements, we recommend the town work with the businesses in this area to identify and/or develop off-street parking," the letter said.

The department is also willing to post "No Parking" signs at the town's request.

Schutz related her efforts to help find a place for parking. So far she has been unsuccessful.

Councilwoman Lynn Horton expressed concern the town could be held liable if there was a fatality as a result of parking on the street.

"Believe me," the town would be a party defendant, town attorney Robert Little III said.

If the town was hit with a lawsuit, it could result in higher taxes for everyone, including business owners, Horton said.

Traffic needs to be slowed down, Councilman Lawrence Gatewood said.

If tickets are issued for this anywhere in town, tickets should be issued everywhere, Horton said.

Schutz agreed the problem was not confined to Salisbury Street.

Ebenezer Baptist Church might be willing to allow customers to park there, Gatewood said.

Gainey added since customers would need to cross the street, he was concerned. He believes people in town do not respect the crosswalk while outsiders stop when necessary.

All parties will continue to look for a solution.