Commissioners will evaluate paid parking at county pier, possibly removing fees for locals

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) — Paid parking went into effect at the M.B. Miller County Pier last Friday and already there’s talk about a possible change.

Bay County commissioners said they’re getting complaints from locals about paying the parking fees.

Board Chairman Tommy Hamm suggested the idea of conducting a study on the consequences of dropping the $80 annual fee for Bay County residents. County staff will collect data for 90 days and then present the results to commissioners.

“People do like to just go and park at the pier, they don’t really have much interest in walking out on the pier or fishing on the pier, they may just like to park there to do sightseeing, watching, eating lunch, whatever it may be, that was the feedback that I was getting,” Hamm said.

County officials said between Friday and Monday afternoon, they collected almost $5,000 in parking fees at the pier. Senior citizens, handicapped, and military people all get pier passes, which include parking, at 50% off.