Wright City officials have passed new rules to prevent what they call eyesores from popping up around the city.For the better part of three months, officials have been wrestling with what to do about a shipping container, such as one might see on the back of a semi truck, placed in the city’s downtown area.The city began receiving complaints about the shipping container at 101 N. Locust St. early this year. The container had been placed on the property without a city permit, officials said.Fred Mueller, the owner of the property in question, came before the city’s board of aldermen Feb. 9 to explain that he was unaware a permit was required for what he called “portable storage.” Aldermen quarreled with Mueller about whether the container would need to be removed.“It’s gonna cost me a bunch of money to move that thing,” Mueller said.Although the city’s aldermen and Mayor David Heiliger wanted the container gone, they struggled to find a justification because nothing in the city code specifically mentioned shipping containers. That left city leaders grasping for interpretation of the existing rules.They compromised with Mueller, allowing him to keep the container, as long as he builds a 10-foot fence around it.Any future property owners hoping for the same deal will have to contend with new rules passed April 27, which end any ambiguity about the city’s view of shipping containers.The rules specifically distinguish between smaller “portable storage containers” and larger “storage units.” Portable containers must be less than 8 by 8 by 12 feet.Anything larger, such as a shipping container, is now defined as a storage unit, which is considered to be a structure. That could limit where they are allowed to be placed, based on city code and permit requirements.Various other restrictions on the use of storage containers are included in the rules passed by aldermen at their April 27 meeting. Those who violate the new regulations are subject to losing the permits for their property, immediate removal of the offending structure and punishment based on any applicable portion of the city’s municipal code.The rules were passed with a 4-0 vote.The Wright City Board of Aldermen meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month, 6:30 p.m. at Wright City Hall. Its next meeting is May 11.Wright City