From left, Silver Lake Town Council members Jan Weller, Nicole Taylor and Hugh Murfin are pictured during a meeting Wednesday, Jan. 12. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

SILVER LAKE – The potential proliferation of trashy campers and the impact of big trucks on side roads were two separate issues discussed at the Silver Lake Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 12.

The town’s council is looking into drafting an ordinance that would allow the town to prohibit large trucks from using smaller side roads – often to avoid stated detours along SR 15.

Town Marshal Jason McGlennen said he believes a weight limit of 26,000 pounds – roughly 13 tons – would be fair.

He said that that would still allow box trucks to make deliveries while prohibiting bigger trucks.

Council member Hugh Murfin said there has been a history of trucks taking side roads. In some of those cases, the drivers suddenly realize the road is narrowing, making it hard to navigate.

The signage could help keep the trucks off smaller roads and result in less wear and tear on town pavement.

Campers in mobile home parks

At least one resident voiced concern over the temporary parking of a camper in a mobile home park in town limits.

The owner of the camper had sought a variance from the town. Officials sought input from the county plan office, which suggested it is a local issue to be dealt with. Town Council has yet to do anything about it.

The camper is parked at Bowman’s Landing, which is near Silver Lake.

Town ordinance prohibits the use of campers as a permanent residence and using utilities. But at the same time, the ordinance doesn’t address the parking of campers.

The owner was told he could park it there. It’s been parked since September 2021 and is not being occupied.

Town Attorney Austin Rovenstine said the owner of the camper is not currently in violation.

But the unidentified man who brought up the concern said if the camper is allowed to stay, it could lead to more of the same elsewhere.

“I have no faith the trailer park will maintain a clean standard because some of those trailers in there are pretty nasty,” the man said.

At least one town official acknowledged they are worried about setting a precedent if the camper stays and becomes occupied.

“If we would let them do it, then everybody in town could do it and we’d have campers sitting everywhere,” Murfin said. “I’m not in favor of it.”

In other matters, the police department released a statistical report for 2021. Some of the highlights from the 3.5-page report:

Town police looked into 108 possible ordinance violations, initiated 717 traffic stops, received 27 domestic complaints, 57 animal complaints and responded to 35 traffic accidents.

All told, town police were involved in about 1,970 tasks covering more than 90 categories.

The next town council meeting will be 7 p.m. Feb. 9.