Johnny Dalton

SENATH, Mo. -- No more mobile homes will be allowed inside the city limits of Senath unless approved by the city's Board of Zoning Appeals.

For the past couple of months, the city has been working with City Attorney Johnny Dalton on getting something in place to discontinue the large flow of mobile homes being moved into the city.

Dalton amended the city's zoning ordinance, making additions to the ordinance's mandatory requirements that have already been in place.

"I have made several additions to the ordinance, which will require the owner to have a certificate of title," Dalton said. "It also now requires that the owner show proof that he is indeed the land owner and future occupant of the mobile home."

Dalton continued to explain that the Board of Zoning Appeals will be able to approve each manufactured home based on a "must see" basis, before making any decisions.

This idea was brought before the council several months ago when a resident approached the council with a complaint of all the dilapidated mobile homes throughout the city.

It was brought to the council's attention that, once the trailers are abandoned, the law goes back to where a new owner must have it approved through the same laws and regulations as set in place now.

This new ordinance is effective immediately. It does not effect any manufactured homes that are already in the city limits, but it will take effect on those if or once those homes are abandoned.

"So from here on out, anyone wishing to move a mobile home into the city limits of Senath must contact the city and have the home approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals before the home enters the city," Dalton said.

Other business matters included approving a recommendation by Mayor Bill Anderson to hire Blacksheep Computing, of Jonesboro, Ark., as the city's Internet service provider.

The council also approved the purchase of four new 5-watt hand-held radios for the water/sewer department. "Battles Communications offered a $100 trade-in for each of the four radios we have," Anderson said. "The price of the new ones are $350 each. "We can now get the four new ones for $1,000, so I recommend that we do that," he said, which the council approved.

In addition to approving the radios, the council approved a recommendation made by Anderson to trade in the city's lawn mower. With the trade in, the city will purchase a new mower with a trade in difference of $4,450.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Monday, June 9, 2008.