On-again, off-again issues that plagued Sewickley's two public metered parking lots this year seem to have affected parking meter revenue in the borough.
From January through the end of July — the most recent data available — Sewickley leaders have collected $91,404 in parking meter revenue, according to borough documents.
During the same time period in 2012, the borough collected $106,308.
The borough's biggest dip came in June when about $5,695 was collected, documents show.
Leaders began having issues in February with a pay station serving about 50 spots in the Division Street lot when $5 in coins were found jammed into the machine's credit card slot.
The problems continued when the Green Street lot began malfunctioning weeks after the Division Street lot issues began.
Borough Manager Kevin Flannery said leaders are watching revenue, but he said numbers typically even out.
About $1,360 more was collected in July 2012 versus this year, records show.
In May, officials collected about $8,689 more than the same month the previous year.
The pay stations — supplied by Duncan Solutions Inc. — were installed in 2009.
Flannery said borough leaders want to have the company help foot some of the bill for lost revenue.
A spokesman with Duncan could not be reached for comment.
In the Green Street lot, the pay station was removed in the summer and replaced with traditional parking meters at the front of each spot. The Division Street lot began collecting revenue again in August.
Flannery said borough leaders are considering changing parking machine companies by January. Officials have considered overhauling the parking system as council members debate whether to construct a nearly 300-space garage on Walnut Street.
Parking in Sewickley is metered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
Borough officials have had recurring issues — mostly weather-related — with the two metered pay stations since installing the machines about four years ago.
Bobby Cherry is an associate editor for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-324-1408 or rcherry@tribweb.com.
