W.S. aldermen consider shipping container homes in town

Would you live in a shipping container? It may soon become a housing option in Willow Springs. During Thursday night’s regular meeting, the board of aldermen unanimously agreed to research and draft an ordinance regulating the non-traditional housing option.

 

The discussion was prompted by an individual citizen, Mandi Hood’s, request to rezone property to accommodate shipping container homes. City Administrator Beverly Hicks brought the question to the aldermen on behalf of the Planning and Zoning Committee to gauge whether there was interest in moving forward with the idea at all. 

 

Mayor Pro Tem Kim Rich opened the discussion by saying she was “very interested” in non-traditional housing options, whether shipping containers or tiny homes. 

 

Alderwoman Jennifer Owens raised concerns about the shipping container material. 

 

“You have no way of knowing what was transported in it before. Was it hazardous materials,” Owens asked. 

 

Stefanie Collins of the Planning and Zoning Board was present, and she shared that board’s concerns with the plans Hood presented, saying, “There’s not a set plan.”

 

“Presenting a full set of plans is mandatory for a request like this,” Hicks agreed. 

 

Hood told Howell County News that the costs of a holding tank and power pole, plus the delay waiting for approval, has prompted her to move the six-unity operation outside city limits. 

 

“I did get approval from the P & Z for the security shack,” Hood said Friday. “I am tying into an existing holding tank and current power pole so there is no problem there. If/when they do approve, I do plan on beginning inside the city limits as well.”

 

“The cost of living is not going down, so I think we will have to figure it out, and move forward with the bigger picture, dealing with this case as an individual,” Rich said. 

 

A public hearing on the 2024 tax rate levy took place before the meeting. Members of the public offered no comment. The hearing lasted one minute. The aldermen subsequently passed the 2024 rate during the regular meeting. 

 

This year’s rate is $0.6835, compared to 2023’s $0.6757. According to City Clerk Heather Tooley, assessed valuations have decreased, but the ceiling rate was raised by the State of Missouri to allow the city to receive a similar revenue in order to continue business as usual. This year’s projected revenue is about four thousand dollars less than last year. In 2023, the estimated collections were $54,090.88 at the lower rate. At the higher rate with lower valuations, estimated 2024 revenue is $,50,060.64.

 

In other discussion:

 

-Wendell Bailey addressed the aldermen on the decrepit state of the facilities at Noblett Lake. He invited the aldermen to lend their support to a meeting with the U.S. Forest Service on Wednesday, August 28 at 12:00 p.m. at Pizza Americana. The aldermen took no action. 

 

-Bryan D. Hogan and David Scarbrough were recognized. 

 

In other actions:

 

-The aldermen voted to close streets on October 5 to accommodate the Bear City Fall Festival. Street closures will take place from approximately 5:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., which shall include the closure of Main Street from Cherry to Ferguson and the closure of Walnut Street, Center Street, Harris Street, and Maple Street from the alley at the viaduct to Third Street.

 

-The aldermen passed the annual conflict of interest policy required by the Missouri Ethics Commission. 

 

-The aldermen approved City Administrator Beverly Hicks to seek disaster mitigation funding after the federal government made a disaster declaration for the storms that passed through the area between May 19 and May 27. Hicks and Northern County Commissioner Calvin Wood have plans to partner with one another to address the low water crossing on Old Rolla Road where it intersects with Old Springfield Road.