On this date in 1935, drivers in Oklahoma City were confronted with America’s first parking meter, collecting rent for a space on the corner of First Street and Robinson Avenue. While local drivers could avoid that single space, they couldn’t escape for long. That meter was just the first of many to sprout up in Oklahoma City and across the nation, as millions of ticketed motorists will attest. While municipalities sought to rotate street parking spots among more drivers, raising revenue was always a consideration. At the same time, pay parking lots and garages began to open for business. Today there are nearly 12,000 such commercial parking facilities in the U.S., which take in well over $7 billion a year in parking fees. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.
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Just want to give a shout out to the Henderson Water and Sewer Department. About ten days ago, something happened to the water mains in my neighborhood. The Department quickly put in a temporary system involving a fire hydrant and heavy garden hoses, and me and three of my neighbors soon had water. Since then, they’ve been been banging away at replacing the mains with new pipes. They appear to be about finished. Hope they regrade the street soon.
It’s been pretty warm recently and I really appreciate the hard work you guys put in.