A Yazoo County bailiff said she doesn’t think it’s fair that she isn’t allowed to park in one of the handicap spaces while she’s on the job, even though she’s eligible.
Magnolia Thomas told the Yazoo County Board of Supervisors Monday that she was recently ordered to stop parking in the public handicap spaces. She said that at times she has had to park far away and walk.
Sheriff Jake Sheriff said it is true that Thomas was told to stop parking in the public spaces, but he said that she was offered a space in the sheriff’s department lot that is just as close.
“I was made to take my car from out of the handicap spot,” Thomas said. “I have permission to park in a handicap space, but I was told to stop because I work here. I work part time. I’m not here every day.”
Thomas said when she leaves for a lunch break it’s hard to find a nearby space when she returns.
“There are a lot of people here when we have court,” Thomas said. “The same day I was told to move my car, I had to park all the way over by the church.”
Chief Deputy Joseph Head said that Thomas was told to park in the “SO3” parking spot, which is near the entrance to the sheriff’s office.
“No one told you to park near the church,” Head said. “When you’re at work those spaces are for the public. “If you’re off work you can park there, but when you’re working you can’t take up that spot the whole day while members of the public need to use it.”
Thomas said the problem is after her lunch break.
“She said she felt like she was being mistreated because she was asked to move,” Sheriff said. “It’s a thin line when it comes to handicap parking. A handicap person cannot be denied, but as an employee we can assist her with parking in another area as close as we can get her to the entrance. Those handicap spaces are for the public. She’s free to park there when she’s not working.”
Board president Cobie Collins said that Thomas’ complaint isn’t an issue for the supervisors to address because she is employed by the sheriff, and he has already made a decision.
Thomas said she plans to appeal to the state attorney general.
