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Smith Center council moves to tighten shipping-container rules, orders 60-day notices
Summary
The Smith Center City Council agreed Feb. 23 to revise Ordinance No. 937 to add temporary-use language, time limits and a permitting fee for shipping/storage containers and directed staff to send 60-day courtesy removal notices to current violators.
Council President Chris Cole opened the Smith Center City Council meeting on Feb. 23, where members discussed updating Ordinance No. 937 to regulate short-term use of shipping and storage containers.
Council members said the city has been lenient in enforcement and needs clearer language to allow temporary uses such as construction or moving while setting explicit time limits and a permit requirement with a fee. "We need language that allows temporary use but prevents long-term storage without oversight," Council Member Ty Wallgren said, recommending staff send a 60-day courtesy notice to current violators.
Staff member Josh Niles will coordinate notice delivery. Tabitha Owen was asked to provide draft verbiage options for the council to review at a future meeting. The council did not take a formal vote to adopt text changes at this meeting; members directed staff to return proposed ordinance language for consideration.
If the council approves revised language in a later meeting, property owners who do not comply after the 60-day notice would be subject to citation under the updated ordinance.
