Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
No ordinance in place for containers
TEKOA — Old shipping containers are showing up around the city and council members want to do something about them.
As a result, the City Council is planning to discuss shipping container use during their upcoming 6 p.m. meeting Monday, July 15. Residents will have up to three minutes each to voice their support or opposition.
“Some of the council members thought the containers were an eyesore,” City Clerk Eliza Evans-Teague said. “They didn’t want to see them anymore until they could create an ordinance to address this.”
Steel shipping containers are readily available nationwide and have become popular for storage use and in construction of “tiny homes.” They generally range in size from 10 to 40 feet in length, and are 8 feet wide by 8 feet tall.
The concern over the use of containers here initially arose over the placement of two storage containers in the business district at the corner of Warren and Crosby streets.
“If you’re going to have one, you should keep belongings inside. I think there is a purpose for them and I am not sure if it is being used for the intended purpose,” said
Eclair’s business owner, Melinda Wilkins, of Tekoa.
But containers are also showing up in residential areas, too, including two new containers placed adjacent to a city alley/right-of-way behind a house along Tekoa-Farmington Road.
Monday’s meeting is planned to gauge public support or opposition to the use of containers, Evans-Teague said, noting council members “are looking to see how the community feels.”
After the discussion, the council is expected to begin drafting an ordinance regarding if, when and where shipping containers could be used.
In many cities that allow shipping container use, their related ordinances address number and size limitations, permit and setback requirements, whether have to be hidden from the view or neighbors and the public, permitting fees structure and allowed uses (i.e. home construction).
“It’s really up to the council to decide,” she added. “At this time, we do not have anything in our ordinances that addresses that.
“It seems wise to make some guidelines for that in the city.”
Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.
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