Parking concerns in downtown Palmerton have been alleviated, according to one borough business owner.

One month after she said there was a lack of available parking spaces in front of her business, Jan Kresge once again appeared before Borough Council on Thursday.However this time, Kresge, who owns Jan's Barber Shop, at 434 Delaware Avenue, told council the situation appears to have been rectified."There's parking now," Kresge said. "I have additional parking."Kresge then asked council if there was any way for the borough to add more handicapped parking spaces."Not only for myself," Kresge said. "I do think for the entire town, it would be a good idea."Council President Terry Costenbader noted there are three handicapped parking spaces; two in front of the borough hall, and one in front of the Palmerton Area Library.Kresge said "we have wives who get their husband's out of wheelchairs, and they still struggle."Borough Manager Rodger Danielson cautioned that such a move would prove costly to the borough.Councilmen Richard Nothstein, Michael Ballard, and Councilwoman Holly Sell each took turns praising Kerri Jahelka, owner of Dedicated Fitness, at 450 Delaware Avenue.Nothstein said Jahelka "has gone out of her way."Sell concurred with Nothstein's sentiment, and added that Jahelka sent out an email to her customers asking them to be considerate of other businesses along the block.Ballard added "it seems like they've been sticking to it, too."Councilman Kris Hoffner noted that Danielson had recently monitored the situation."Kerri's been encouraging her patrons to park a little farther away and walk," Hoffner said. "We're going to continue monitoring."Audra Doll, an employee at Jan's Barber Shop, told council "we are extremely appreciative Kerri emailed her customers. We also want to thank them too."Last month, Kresge told council the parking spaces in front of her business were being used up by customers of Dedicated Fitness.She was joined at that meeting by another borough business owner who also expressed the same concerns.