Wednesday, March 26, 1997
Parking violator settles with city
The city's worst parking scofflaw has made good on her 162
overdue tickets.
Jodell Wilder, owner of Jodelle's Hair & Attitudes, agreed
Friday to pay a $2,500 lump sum to cover her fines and 50 percent
of her late charges. The city agreed to forego the remaining $720
Wilder owed.
Assistant City Manager Roy McDaniel explained the agreement
avoided the need for a multi-year payment plan that would have
generated administrative costs.
"We wanted all of ours up front so we were willing to
accept a little less," McDaniel said. "In a forced issue
over three or four years, we could've gotten it all - maybe. You
never know."
The compromise, negotiated by city administrators and Wilder's
attorney, nulled the need for a Tuesday morning hearing the salon
owner was summonsed to appear to resolve her outstanding tickets.
As part of the agreement, the city is dismissing its claim
to $1,105 Wilder overpaid in taxes to the Taylor County Central
Appraisal District.
The appraisal district last month asked a county court at law
judge to decide whether the city's or Wilder's claim to the money
was valid.
Chief Appraiser Richard Petree explained an attorney or a mortgage
company appears inadvertently to have paid taxes twice on a piece
of property Wilder was either purchasing or refinancing. The city
laid claim to the money after learning Wilder had applied for
a refund.
Wilder declined to talk Tuesday.
"I'd hate to repeat what she said, but she doesn't want
to talk to you," an employee who answered the phone told
a reporter.
In January, Wilder was undaunted by the city's threats to tow
her truck, saying the city could have her vehicle.
"I'll go buy a new one," she said. "I need to
find another place to park - my business included."
But Wilder has apparently retreated to her leased parking place,
two blocks from her Pine Street business. In doing so she has
avoided having her vehicle immobilized and towed, and has not
been ticketed since the city began employing the notorious "boot"
six weeks ago.
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Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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