Fifty foot limit scratched: County removes bin height limits

Grain bins can now be built as tall as possible in Whitman County, though many already are.

County commissioners Monday approved changes to the county’s ag zone ordinance that removed a statutory 50-foot height restriction on grain bins.

Commissioners and planning staff noted many elevators have already been built taller than that restriction.

“We have lots of people that are out of compliance already,” said Commissioner Greg Partch, who asked rhetorically why the restriction had not been removed decades ago.

Had the restriction not been in place, the county could have forced owners to tear down overheight bins if a problem had arisen.

Commissioners noted structural limitations will likely keep grain bins from being built too tall.

A public hearing was slated prior to the decision at Monday’s meeting, but no one attended.

Commissioners also approved changes to the zoning law that would allow Planner Alan Thomson to approve or deny requests to post multiple signs on the same business site.

Current law allows for one sign per property owner. Assistant Planner Iris Mayes noted the change was made with Boise-based Hawkins’ Companies long-proposed stateline stripmall in mind.