County spells out proposed zoning changes
Changes to the county's zoning regulations were clarified in writing Monday by Marion County Commission.
A public hearing was held Thursday by Marion County Planning Commission regarding one proposal but the changes were not what the commission and others at the hearing wanted.
The commission determined three-acre parcels were desired with 16 homes per section.
"We're not being threatened with growth by leaps and bounds," said commissioner Randy Dallke, regarding the fear of too much development. "We need to keep what we have."
Dallke said farmers won't sell three acres of prime land. They'll sell waste land.
Owners of small acreage have not been able to do anything with the land since 1992. Changes would include addressing that issue.
Commissioner Bob Hein agreed, saying he knows of farmers who have three acres they can't do anything with and want to sell.
"Let's fix the problem we've got and not what we might have," said commission chairman Dan Holub.
All agreed that if changes need to be made to the county's comprehensive plan, then so be it.
A letter with the suggested changes will be submitted to the planning commission prior to its meeting this week.
In other business:
— The commission forgave four working days to Shilling Construction regarding a road project in Peabody.
The construction company agreed to the additional work at the same price as the county road project, not fully realizing the amount of time involved with a smaller area to resurface.
When the company starts back up in the spring, a $1,000 per day assessment in liquidated damages will be collected for each day it takes to complete the project. Engineers anticipate work to be completed within three weeks.
— Cardie Oil Company of Tampa was awarded a transport fuel bid of $17,192 for 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel at an average cost of $2.14 per gallon, and 2,000 gallons of unleaded fuel at $2.03 per gallon.
No other bids were received.
— Funds were transferred from the general fund of road and bridge to special equipment fund for a payment of $100,000 for a motor grader lease.
— Rollin Schmidt, county noxious weed director, reviewed priorities for his department. Priorities included spraying of weeds along guard rails on paved county roads, a policy for private property insecticide applications, road side spraying, and enforcement of noxious weed control.
Dallke asked Schmidt for an overall evaluation of the department, which Schmidt will provide at the next meeting.
— New carpet was approved for the weed department office. Baker Furniture of Peabody had the low bid of $599. County Seat of Marion also presented a bid of $978.
— Permission was given to Helen Beckham to erect a sign at Marion County Lake near the bronze statue that commemorates the workers who built the facility.
— Marion County Health and Fitness Challenge was approved for 2006. County employees can participate in the program and earn points for meeting various goals. When 6,000 points are achieved, the employee receives a day off with pay. In 2005, two employees earned the points for a day off.
— Funds that were encumbered at a previous meeting for the county attorney's office were rescinded because the attorney's budget did not have sufficient funds to cover it.
— Dallke asked the commission to consider delegating each commissioner to communicate with individual county department supervisors.
He said he was aware of some counties that conduct their business this way and it is effective.
The next commission meeting is at 9 a.m. Feb. 1 at the courthouse.
