Horse-drawn Carriage Must Keep Moving

Like the Flying Dutchman in the opera of the same name, the horse-drawn carriage that carries tourists around Cedar Key appear to be destine to keep moving for seven years at a time. An appeal by the carriage owner to the City Commission for a designated parking spot is now in limbo, due to a report by Commissioner Pat O'Neal that the carriage owner has an unpaid parking fine dating from an infraction in 2006. The consensus of the four Commissioners present was to await payment before placing the issue on a future meeting agenda.

Permission to park in a fire hydrant zone was denied by the State Fire Marshal according to Commissioner O'Neal who has been trying to resolve the parking problem for several months. Likewise, a proposal to designate a carriage parking space on Dock Street was opposed by business owners in that area. Commissioner Gene Hodges suggested that the horse be taken in place of payment of the fine.