GARNETT, Kan. — A long running discussion on shipping containers in Garnett came to a climax last night at the Garnett City Commission approved on a 2-1 vote with Commissioner Jody Cole opposed an ordinance that bans use of shipping containers as a dwelling anywhere in the city, or permanent usage within the office-institutional and business districts.
They will be allowed by right in industrial zones and the few agricultural zoned properties in Garnett with a limit of two containers on a site. Temporary uses will be permitted for up to 180 days for construction or disaster recovery.
The Commission approved a special use permit that will make legal a five space RV park on South Walnut that was built at a time RV spaces were not otherwise available due to a pipeline project. The owner of the property is currently working on a plan to redevelop the property to accommodate tiny homes.
This vote was also 2-1 with Cole opposed.
The Commission received a 2024 audit report from Jared, Gilmore and Phillips, which had an unmodified opinion as it relates to compliance with the regulatory basis of accounting as set out in the Kansas Municipal Audit and Accounting Guide and an adverse option as it relates to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, a finding nearly every local governmental entity in Kansas has due to differences between the two as it relates to certain things not included in a regulatory audit.
No budget violations were found in the report, which also indicated an increase in year-end cash balances for the city.
The commission also heard a presentation from Austin Massey with Midwest Assistance Program, which assists cities and other entities in grant applications with federal agencies such as USDA. Massey, who had previously worked for USDA, said that organization works across a nine-state area.
