Ditto on the meter maid. They're obviously trying to just pick up their ticket quota.
It's unfortunate that this stuff has to happen, I don't really have an new ideas except for what some people said in the thread. School shop might not want it since it would be a total overhaul to get it working but its still worth a try asking. No one would pay even $50 on Craigs to come pick it up? I'm sure there's someone.