U.S. Marshal wants parking banned in front of federal courthouse

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville City Council heard a concern and a security request from district U.S. Marshal Dick Mecum Thursday that could lead to fewer parking spaces downtown.

City Manager Bryan Shuler said Mecum - who oversees the U.S. Marshals Service in north Georgia and is a former Hall County Sheriff - wants eight parking spaces on Spring Street between the Hall County Courthouse Annex and the federal building off-limits to the public.

"What we have discussed as a maybe an alternative is to designate those parking spaces for law enforcement only," Shuler said.

Shuler said Mecum wants to further reduce security threats to the federal building which houses a courtroom, judge's chambers, U.S. Attorney's office, federal court clerk office and other federal agencies. Several years ago, parking spaces on Green Street next to the federal building and across from Regions Banks were eliminated.

(AccessNorthGa.com's Ken Stanford contributed to this story.)

http://accesswdun.com/article/2007/8/86847