Alternates for BZA members brought up
Cathy May - Contributing Writer

Charles Rohlfing, president of the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) presented the board with several points of interest at the July 26, meeting. He said the Ripley County Area Planning Commission is preparing Rules of Procedure and he thinks the BZA should also adopt them.

Staff members cannot act as a consultant or advocate for an applicant and Rohlfing feels this should apply to BZA members too.

He was concerned about absences on the BZA board. He stated that one member had been absent or unable to vote on fifteen applications since March of 2001 to the present. In fact, this member has only been able to vote on an entire agenda twice in the past seven months. With only five voting members, this can put the board in a bind. (There were only three members at the July 26, meeting. If one of them had abstained, the applicant would have had to come back another month.)

Rohlfing suggested that each member have an alternate who would be present when a member has to abstain or is absent. They would have to go back to the appointing authority to have them name an alternate. He also suggested that if a member has to abstain from any agenda item, the alternate would be asked to serve because there is only enough money allocated to pay one person. This matter will be on the agenda for next month's meeting.

The Board of Zoning Appeals heard six agenda items. Cingular Wireless customers will be glad to hear the board approved the construction of the new cellular communications tower to be located at 2752 N. County Road 625 E. in Milan.

A new water tower will be constructed by Aberdeen-Pate Water Company at 2803 E. State Road 62 at Cross Plains. Their variance and special exception were granted.

Michael Zink applied for a set back variance to permit construction of a private pole garage at 5800 State Road 129 in Versailles. It was approved.

Larry Meyer asked for a special exception to permit storage units on Lammers Pike in Batesville. His request was approved with outside storage being limited to recreational vehicles only.

Chris Wilhelm's application for a special exception to permit mini-storage units at 1276 N. State Road 129 in Batesville was also granted.

John E. Lohrum was given permission to construct a private garage at Timber Village Subdivision, Lot #1 in Versailles. His variance from the required set back was from 8' to 6'.

After the regular meeting, the BZA went into executive session for a discussion on proceedings of violations.

Three of five BZA members were in attendance: Sam Row, Roger Lang, and Charles Rohlfing. Attorney John Ertel and Planning Director Tad Brinson were also present to advise the board. The next meeting of the Ripley County BZA will be August 30, at 7:00 p.m. in the Commissioners Room of the Courthouse Annex in Versailles.