New ordinance to relax mobile home rules in Scott City

The Scott City Council may vote to temporarily relax its regulations on what types of mobile homes can be placed on lots inside the city limits.

City attorney Frank Siebert is currently drawing up an ordinance that would relax the city's regulations on mobile homes for two years. The ordinance is expected to come before the council for a vote at its March 5 meeting.

At its regular meeting Tuesday to council voted 5-2 on a motion to start drawing up the ordinance.

The ordinance would suspend the city's rule that mobile homes placed on lots in the city limits be no older than 10 years for a period of two years. Under the ordinance, mobile homes approved by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development after 1984 could be placed on city lots where older mobile homes currently sit, as long as the HUD-approved structures passed the city's occupancy standards.

The vote comes months after discussions began between the council and Scott City businessman Richard Brawley. Brawley has plans to replace several mobile homes he owns in the city's current "light industrial" zone near Interstate 55, all of which are several decades old, some dating back to the 1960s.

Brawley approached the council in December with his plans but pleaded for the council to relax the 10-year rule. Installing mobile homes newer than 10 years old for the purpose of renting them is not economically feasible, Brawley said.

Brawley said he's "very happy" the council will vote on the ordinance. "That's very fair," he said.

Relaxing the regulations would apply throughout the city.

Brant said relaxing the regulations will allow those with old mobile homes they'd like to replace to do so without the extra cost that comes with buying a new mobile home. By doing so, Brant hopes the temporary rules will help beautify the city.

"We're going to give every trailer owner the opportunity to clean up their trailers," Brant said.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182