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More ‘trash talk’
Hoisington City Council determines ordinances will be enforced
new_vlc_wooden trash corral.jpg
A Hoisington property owner, Shawna Beran, built this trash can corral earlier this fall in order to avoid the need to return the containers to the side of the house and to keep the wind from blowing them over. No permit was acquired, and placement of the structure is in violation of city code. Beran has attempted to sway the city council to revise the ordinance, to no avail.

HOISINGTON — After one Hoisington resident, Shawna Beran, addressed complaints about her trash barrel corral at the two previous consecutive city council meetings, Hoisington City Council members once again took up the topic, albeit briefly, at the Monday, Dec. 23 meeting. The Great Bend Tribune talked with Hoisington City Manager Jonathan Mitchell Tuesday, Dec. 24, by phone. 

Council members determined the city would reach out to affected property owners and make them aware that trash containers must be stored by the house, not the street, as is specified in the city ordinance, and any structures built require permits and must adhere to city ordinances. Failure observed these ordinances will result in ticketing and fines. 

Beran dominated the public comment period during the Nov. 25 and Dec. 9 city council meetings, and at least one council member appeared to support Beran’s assertion that corrals, if tastefully constructed, should be allowed. She had designed and had built a wooden structure placed next to the public sidewalk in front of her home. 

As of the Dec. 23 meeting, the council as a whole had made no move to address potential changes to the city ordinances that Beran’s corral was clearly in violation of. The brief discussion concluded with the decision not to pursue an ordinance revision. 

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A Hoisington homeowner placed this structure near the curb in front of their house in protest of the trash can corral, built by their neighbor, which has been the subject of discussion at two consecutive city council meetings. As of Tuesday, Dec. 26, the structure was in the process of being removed in adherence with city ordinances. This photo acquired by the Tribune was taken on a prior day.

Sometime between the council meetings of Dec. 9 and Dec. 23, a nearby neighbor of Beran’s placed a structure in a similar location on their property near the curb. This structure consisted of a port-a-potty flanked on either side by the trash containers. The structure was adorned with holiday lights, a wreath and images of Santa Claus. 

Mitchell said he approached the property owner prior to the meeting, and learned it had been placed in protest of the city’s failure to enforce the ordinance on Beran. The individual agreed to remove the structure after Christmas when informed the city may be forced to take action on all who violate the ordinance, Mitchell said. As of Thursday, Dec. 26, the port-a-potty structure was in the process of being removed, but no effort had been made on Beran’s part to remove the wooden corral.