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P&G on parking: Working on it
by Rick DeClue · News · January 29, 2015


Procter & Gamble representative Michael Hughes told the city last week fewer trucks park on Fawcett Drive after the company implemented a variety of new practices.


In the latest chapter since complaints about trucks parked on the road waiting to get into P&G led to the city threatening to have them ticketed, Hughes last week appeared at the City Council meeting to assure the distribution center is trying to address concerns.

The issue first arose in August, and Hughes, who oversees West Branch’s plant and the Iowa City Beauty Care site, said that problem parking decreased 30 to 50 percent prior to December.

Most of this is due to a newly installed camera monitoring the area outside the north gate and direct communication with drivers.

December is a critical month because it is typically a high-volume month for the plant, Hughes said, and several of the steps taken to address the situation were implemented just prior to the end of the year.

These included:

• addition of another staff member by Per Mar Security, the contract service provider at the entrance;

• Per Mar and P&G staff directing traffic during peak volume times;

• a review of time stamps for incoming trucks and expansion of hours when time stamps are required;

• communication with trucking carriers and dispatchers asking for cooperation on arrival and wait times;

• distribution of flyers to drivers warning them to “act appropriately, or be ticketed”

• initiation of an instant messaging procedure for direct contact with drivers.

Hughes said there are four entry lanes that hold two trucks each. Sometimes the lanes are not fully used due to short visibility around the trucks, he said.

P&G has reviewed its paperwork process for entering trucks, Hughes said. Policies call for workers to process each truck in five to seven minutes. If not, P&G now requires trucks to pull into the site, with up to 10 parking spaces for that.

Hughes said P&G continues to look for ways to improve the situation. Two engineers will begin a detailed review of truck-processing procedures and Per Mar will install a third computer for training staff at the entrance “shack.”

The company will also work with the city to improve traffic and directional signs, plus lane markings approaching the plant.

Hughes said several times that P&G takes this situation seriously.

“We are not satisfied yet, and we will continue to work with Police Chief (Mike) Horihan and (City Administrator) Matt Muckler to look for further ways to improve our operations,” Hughes said.

Mayor Mark Worrell thanked Hughes, saying it was clear the company “went to great lengths” to address this issue.

Council member Tim Shields thanked Hughes for “addressing the issue so quickly.”

This comment was in contrast to earlier discussions by the council about ticketing truck drivers sooner due to the amount of time that has passed since August.

Member Jordan Ellyson also thanked Hughes for realizing the seriousness of the situation. She said the city had received numerous complaints about the trucks parked in the street over the years.

“It is a public safety issue,” she said. “We did not intend to hurt a business relationship that is important to the city.”