Storage Container Debate Continues in Springfield

What once was a heated topic before city council is now a calm conversation between Springfield leaders and business owners. 

In Monday’s first of four public forums about the containers, citizens and leaders focused on education as the best way to find a suitable solution.

Four businesses who rent or lease out storage containers and trailers met with city staff and council members to discuss concerns about regulation of those units.

The public meeting was far less formal than hearings before council in the past several weeks, allowing for open discussion and a sharing of ideas as the city now looks to draft a revamped ordinance to regulate on site storage.

While most stakeholders tonight say they have always agreed that health and safety are a concern with these units, they worried companies would be forced to shut down because broad regulations didn't focus on the needs of individual and diverse companies.

There are three more public meetings on the topic.  Tuesday night's will focus on small retailers.  Next Tuesday will address large retailers and then on October first, manufacturing and industrial interests will be addressed.  Anyone is welcome to attend at 6 p.m. in the Busch Building.