A slew of complaints to the city of Aberdeen regarding shopping carts in front of Aberdeen Timberland Library has compelled the city to act with a city code.

The target for the city code? The sidewalk area in front of the Aberdeen branch of Timberland Regional Library (TRL) — 121 E. Market St.

The code itself is as follows:

“Effective June 5, 2023, and forward from this date, it shall be a violation of city code and unlawful to park or leave any shopping cart in front of or in the surrounding area around the Aberdeen Public Library. Any shopping cart left or parked in the area will be immediately removed by the city. Any property found in the shopping cart will be bagged up and stored. Anyone found in violation of this order will be issued a notice of infraction,” states the code, which was signed by Bill Sidor, assistant community development director.

While Ruth Clemens, Aberdeen’s city administrator, could not provide a number of complaints the city has received, Clemens said officials have received direct complaints.

“The mayor and nearly each council member has been contacted regarding the shopping carts in front of the library,” Clemens said Thursday morning. “We have received written correspondence and have heard from library patrons from other cities that like to use our library.”

According to Clemens, she and other city staff members have heard those complaints “loud and clear.”

Clemens credited Aberdeen Mayor Pete Schave with the idea to act.

“He heard from members of the community and understood their concerns,” Clemens said. “He brought it to me and asked me to make it an operational priority.”

Aberdeen’s Code Enforcement (ACE) sent a 72-hour notice to clean up the area on Thursday, June 1.

“Any persons contributing to the nuisance, garbage, or debris must immediately remove any personal property from the area of nuisance, garbage or debris,” the notice states.

Aberdeen Police Cmdr. Steve Timmons said ACE will collect any carts and-or property if they are left there in violation.

As of Thursday, it’s not a “criminal matter,” so it won’t involve the Aberdeen Police Department, according to Timmons.

The area was supposed to be cleaned up by 10 a.m., on Monday, June 5. The cleanup was to include the removal of “all garbage, litter, waste and shopping carts from the area,” according to the 72-hour notice. The city’s Community Development Department sent the notice. The notice can be seen clearly on the library’s glass door entrance.

In addition to the garbage collection, the city intended to pick up personal property. According to Clemens, the notification was a “very effective method.”

“Overall, people were very respectful of the notice,” Clemens said. “We did have to remove two carts, but we worked with the individual and are storing their items according to our procedures.”

In addition to the city and the library, Safeway got involved in the cleanup as well. Both the library and the city were grateful for the help.

“I would like to thank Safeway for sending a representative to assist us in the cart retrievals,” Clemens said. “They are equally concerned with this issue, as I’m sure other stores are. I look forward to continue our work with Safeway and other retailers to address this longstanding issue.”

The notice and Monday’s cleanup seemed to have worked, because just before 11 a.m. on Tuesday, the area in front of the library was clear of any carts, personal property and garbage. The area in front was clear as of early Thursday afternoon, too.

Since the cleanup, the library has received “a couple of positive phone calls,” regarding the cart removal, according to an email from Rose Enos-Weedmark, administrative coordinator and media contact for TRL. Enos-Weedmark said one email stated how the cleanup is a “good step for the library.”

Cheryl Heywood, executive director for TRL, gave her two cents on the issue and how it was handled earlier in the week.

“It’s a health and safety issue,” Heywood said in an email. “We work with and appreciate our partnership with the city of Aberdeen.”

As for any future removal of property from the area, Clemens said the city has a location where it will store the unhoused individuals’ personal property that staff clears from the area.

“We give them a card and they are able to call us and set up a time to retrieve their items,” Clemens said. “We are legally obligated to store their items for up to 60 days.”

Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.