Warrenton city officials continue to review their enforcement of an ordinance that requires all property owners to have permanent screening around their trash dumpsters. The city ordinance states that no trash bin shall be visible from off the property and the fence shall be a minimum of 6 feet high and be completely enclosed. All properties, including residential and commercial, fall under the ordinance. A chain-link fence is not allowed. Last Tuesday, the Warrenton Board of Aldermen held a work session to go over possible exemptions. While acknowledging the cost to build the fence, the ordinance is expected to clean up areas that are considered an eyesore, aldermen said. A variance will only be considered for hardship cases. City Attorney Chris Graville noted that the cost of building an enclosure is not considered a hardship for property owners. While Building Commissioner Jim Daly is informing businesses about the ordinance, the screening won't be enforced until October. Mayor Greg Costello suggested the city identify the possible reasons for exemptions. One instance that was discussed focused on properties where there isn't enough room to build a fence. Some of the properties pinpointed last week that have yet to meet the screening guidelines include the outlet mall and Moser's grocery store. Alderman John Clark pointed out that employees at Moser's move the trash dumpster daily, so the ordinance would be a hindrance. "I don't think it's necessary," Clark said regarding the ordinance. "That is what I think. We're putting a lot of hardship on people that cannot afford it. You look at the outlet center, they're already hurting and you're looking at ways to hurt them more." Costello commented that Moser's may be able to use a trash compactor, similar to one used at Wal-Mart, and be exempted from needing the screening. Since enforcement has started, he noted that several businesses have switched to using toters that are available at the same price as a dumpster. "I understand your concern about not putting greater hardship on businesses," Costello told Clark. "That makes sense. We need to have some empathy, but we can't pick and choose who we put this enforcement on." Clark, however, added that a screening won't prevent individuals from throwing trash into the enclosed area and might not even resolve the issue of trash escaping. He preferred the city enforce the littering law, though city attorney Chris Graville acknowledged the difficulty in ticketing an individual. "Having a gate is not solving a problem," he said. "The problem is them being overfilled and then it's a problem." The board of adjustment, comprised of five members of the city's planning and zoning board, would grant the variance only in situations where a hardship has been identified. A public hearing would be held to hear the variance request. Anyone requesting a variance would be required to pay $125, along with a $300 deposit for a publication/recording expense. A work session is expected to be scheduled soon to follow up on variances that may be approved. "I think we have to stay consistent," Alderman Fred Flake said. "If we go changing now, then we will have some problems."