FAQs

The City of Smithville regulates the allowable height for weeds and grass in all areas of the City to reduce nuisances to adjacent property owners. The City of Smithville's revision to Section 302.4 of the International Property Maintenance Code requires:

All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from grass, weeds or other vegetation in excess of seven (7) inches to grow in the right-of-way from the street curb and/or edge of pavement where no edge is present to the property line within the City or any area between the property lines of the lot or parcel, and the curb line or edge of any adjacent street, and the centerline of any adjacent alley, including, but not specifically limited to, sidewalks, streets, alleys, easements, rights-of-way and all other areas.

Discharging cut grass clippings into the City street or on the sidewalk must be removed once mowing is complete.  Failure to remove the clippings may result in a ticket to Municipal Court.

The City of Smithville and the Clay County Assessor's Mapping Department entered into an agreement to provide online access to the zoning designation for any parcel located inside the City Limits of Smithville. You can search zoning here. 

If you believe you see a zoning violation, use the Report a Concern function under the How do I? tab in the upper right hand corner.  If you still have questions concerning Zoning Issues, either send an e-mail or call City Hall at 816-532-3897.

The City of Smithville offers options when it comes to disposing of yard waste. Yard waste consists of the following:                                                                 

• Leaves
• Grass clippings
• Small Sticks and Tree Branches. 

These items cannot be included with household trash.  Placing or blowing yard waste into the street storm drains or waterways is strictly prohibited. Curbside pickup of yard waste is offered by the City of Smithville. Curbside pick-up is included in the contract with WCA. The cost is included in the monthly charge for residential solid waste pick-up.  Yard waste must be put in compostable bags or bundled (small branches). 

Residents must opt-in for curbside yard waste pick-up by contacting GFL at 816-380-5595. Yard waste is collected weekly on the same day as trash and recycling (calendar and additional yard waste information). Smithville residents can utilize the Missouri Organic Yard Waste Drop-Off Site located at 11660 North Main, Kansas City MO, 64155 (Just Off NE Cookingham Drive and I-435). For more information, please call 816-483-0908.

• You must fill out the agreement form and provide proof of age to receive the discount. 
• You must be the account holder to receive the discount. 
• The City will not apply the discount to previously issued utility bills. 
• The discount will not be applied to late fees.
• You must be in good standing with Utility Billing to activate the account.

If you sign up by, or before, the 24^th day of the month, the discount will be applied to your next bill. If you sign up after the 24^th, the discount will be applied to the following billing cycle. For example, if you sign up by November 24^th you will receive the discount on your December bill. If you sign up on November 25^th, you will receive the discount on your January bill.

• Avoid putting grease down your garbage disposal or household drain. It will solidify, collect debris and accumulate in city lines, or build up in your own sewer service line.
• Never flush disposable diapers, sanitary napkins or paper towels down the toilet. They could stop up your drains and may damage your plumbing system.
• If the lateral line in your older home has a jointed pipe system, consider whether the roots of large shrubs or trees near the line could invade and break pipes. It is a good idea to know the location of your lateral line(s). Your plumber may be able to help you determine the location of your service line between your house and the city's sewer main.
• If the lowest level of your home is below ground level, such as a basement floor drain, it may one day be affected by a backup. One way to prevent sewage backup through such below ground areas is to install a "back-flow valve" on the lowest drain(s). You can also use a plumber's test plug to close these drains when not in use.
• For further information about preventive measures, contact the City of Smithville, a licensed plumber or plumbing supply dealer.

"White" or "Tan" colored particles can come from several different sources, such as:

• The Inside of Your Plastic Plumbing
• Your Water Heater
• Water Softener.

Discolored water usually occurs when there has been a water break, a water main repair, or addition of water mains, into the distribution system. Water mains are always flushed after work is completed but some discolored water can enter into the customer`s service line.

Please Do the Following:

• Flush all cold-water faucets in the house until the water runs clear.
• Avoid using any hot water during this process so you do not draw discolored water into your hot water heater. 

In addition, during times in which water is shutoff for waterline improvement projects, utility customers may be notice water which is "cloudy, brown/ or orange" in color, This discoloration is related to sediment that is stirred up in the older waterlines as the crew turns the main waterline on and off during the tie-in process. To mitigate this issue, residents can turn on an outside faucet, inside faucet, or bathtub and run the water until the color is clear.

• You will be asked questions about the backup timing, location, the property at risk, etc.
• City personnel will check for blockages in the main line. If a blockage is found, it will be immediately cleared.
• If the main line is not blocked, you will be advised to call a plumbing or sewer contractor to check your service line. Maintenance and repair of the service line is the owner's responsibility from the house to, and including, the connection to the city's main sewer. The main sewer is owned and maintained by the City of Smithville.
• To minimize damage and negative health effects, you should arrange for cleanup of the property as soon as possible. There are qualified businesses that specialize in this type of cleanup if you'd prefer to not handle the cleanup yourself.

Sanitary sewers flow by gravity so they generally follow the natural slope of the ground. The sewer mains that the city owns and maintains are typically located eight to fifteen feet below ground. Sanitary sewer backups can be caused by a number of factors. They usually involve sewer pipe blockages in either the city’s main sewer lines or in the private sewer service line which the property owner owns and maintains (sewer line between buildings and the city’s main sewer line).

Causes of a backup may include:

• Pipe breaks or cracks due to tree roots.
• System deterioration.
• Construction mishaps.
• Grease accumulation.
• Hair, or other solid materials, such as disposable diapers or sanitary napkins.
• Another frequent cause of backups in residences is a ground water connection to the sanitary sewer system. Storm water connections may cause major backups in city lines as well as in residents’ private service lines.
• Vandalism.
• Leaves, sticks, rocks, bricks and trash are sometimes found stuffed down manholes.

The Utilities Department utilizes a strong oxidant called chlorine dioxide to disinfect the water. Chlorine dioxide is a gas that can interact with other chemicals in the home to give off a "cat urine" type smell. This usually occurs in homes that have been newly built or have been recently remodeled. New paint and new carpeting will also react with chlorine dioxide.

• Every attempt is made to prevent backups in the public wastewater system before they occur.
• Sewer lines are specially designed to prevent accumulation and stoppages.
• In addition, we have maintenance crews that are devoted to inspecting and cleaning wastewater lines throughout the city on a regular schedule.
• Degreasing chemicals are sometimes injected into lines in areas that are prone to stoppages, such as those near restaurants, apartments or high-density housing developments.
• Even with our maintenance schedule, however, backups are often beyond the city's control. Most that do occur are confined to the sewage pipeline, rather than backing up into a home.

The City's water does contain some calcium that can precipitate out and cause scaling or clogging of lines in appliances. Yearly flushing maintenance of your water heater is recommended to prevent build-up. Use white vinegar or a specialized product for scale removing in appliances. Scale build-up on plumbing fixtures can be removed with any lime-removing product.

The best way you can help reduce the amount of FOG entering the sanitary sewer system is by properly disposing of fats, oils and grease. Do not put FOG down the drain. Instead, let the grease cool in a container, and place the container in the trash for pick up during your normal trash day.

• First, take action to protect people and valuable property.
• Keeping in mind that ceramic plumbing fixtures such as toilets are fragile. Quickly close all drain openings with stoppers or plugs. Tub, sink and floor drains may need additional weight to keep them sealed. A string mop can be used to help plug toilet openings.
• Don't run any water down your drains until the blockage has been cleared.
• A quick check with nearby neighbors will help determine if the backup appears to be in your wastewater service line or widespread in your neighborhood. If the backup is widespread, call the distribution division immediately at 816-532-0577.
• Call a plumber if the problem is contained to your wastewater service line. 

The City's water does contain manganese at levels that can sometimes cause an objectionable "metallic" taste in the drinking water. Manganese is a naturally occurring mineral in the water that has no adverse health effects.

The most common cause of cloudy water is air in the water main or the customer`s service line. Air may get in the water line because of a water break of water line repair. Cold water in winter months contains dissolved oxygen that will appear as air bubbles in the water as it warms up. To test this, fill a clear glass with water and allow it to sit out until it reaches room temperature. You should notice air bubbles along the side of the glass as the water warms.

Several types of blue-green algae are prevalent in Smithville Lake. As these algae bloom or decay they release chemical compounds that cause musty, earthy tastes and odors. These chemical compounds are called Geosmin and Methylisoborneol (MIB).These compounds have no adverse health effects but do cause taste and odor complaints.

Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) can be a major problem for the City's sanitary sewers. About 75 percent of sewer stoppages are attributed to FOG buildup. When FOG is discharged to the sewer, it cools and accumulates on the sidewalls of the pipes. Over time, the accumulation of grease restricts the flow and causes blockages in the sewer, clogging the pipes and constricting the flow of wastewater. This can lead to overflowing manholes onto City streets or in residential yards becoming an environmental and health hazard. FOG can also cause basement backups costing hundreds if not thousands of dollars in damage and clean-up costs at the property owner's expense.

In the majority of cases, a special rider will need to be added to your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy to cover damages related to sewage backups or water damage. This optional coverage is usually not very expensive, but you must request that it be added to your policy. Check with your insurance agent about this policy provision.

As with the majority of municipalities in the country, the city cannot assume full financial responsibility for damages resulting from sewage backups, since most stoppages are related to conditions that are beyond the city’s control. That is why it is important that property owners confirm that they are adequately insured — particularly if areas of their home lie below ground level. Call your insurance agent today to have this coverage added to your policy.