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Kirksville council narrows truck-parking ban, allows more vehicle haulers and empty grain trucks
Summary
The Kirksville City Council voted to amend parking rules for the city’s tractor-trailer lot, removing a ban on vehicle haulers and changing a ban on “grain haulers” to a ban on “loaded grain haulers,” a change supporters said reduces restrictions with no fiscal impact and opponents said could attract animals from spilled grain.
The Kirksville City Council voted on second reading to amend the city’s stopping, standing and parking ordinance to remove a prohibition on vehicle haulers and to change a ban on “grain haulers” to a ban on “loaded grain haulers.” The measure passed after council debate over enforcement and possible animal attraction from spilled grain.
Deputy Police Chief Justin Jones told the council the off‑street tractor‑trailer parking lot off Charles Street was built to provide a lawful place for local truck drivers to park when they come home, and that the proposed change would make the lot “less restrictive” while imposing no fiscal impact. He said the recommended amendment would remove vehicle haulers from the prohibited-vehicle list and narrow the grain‑hauler restriction to only prohibit trucks that still contain grain.
The change responds to feedback received after an ordinance passed in February that had defined which types of tractor‑trailer vehicles could park in the lot and reserved 15 stalls for local drivers. Jones said the vehicle‑hauler prohibition could be lifted because Kirksville has a low number of auto dealerships, and that many grain haulers already wash out their trailers before parking.
A council member who opposed the change said cleaning is often incomplete and that residue can attract animals: “It attracts animals. I just can’t be for it.” Jones and other council members said enforcement would be available through the police department and that repeat offenders could be barred from using the lot.
City Clerk Diane read the ordinance title on both first and second readings; the council approved the ordinance on first reading (moved by Council Member Steele; seconded by Council Member Walston) and again on second reading (moved by Council Member Walston; seconded by Council Member Bridal). There was at least one recorded no vote in both readings from a council member who cited concerns about grain residue and wildlife.
The ordinance amends Chapter 38, Article 6 of the Code of Ordinances (the transcript identifies the specific provision as ordinance 38 4 89). City staff said there is no fiscal impact from the change. No members of the public spoke on the item during the meeting’s citizen input period.
Council members discussed that enforcement would be handled by the police department and that the city could revoke lot privileges for repeated violations. The council did not alter the number of reserved stalls that were established by the earlier ordinance.
