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Low
attendance issue at Planning Commission mtg.
Cathy May, Contributing Writer
A small board attendance caused some unhappy people at the July
3 meeting of the Ripley County Area Planning Commission. Von McGuire
made application to rezone his property at 529 W. US 50 in Versailles
from Residential-1 to Local Business. He already has more than three
acres of property fronting US 50 that is zoned Local Business. He
was asking for the 6.271 acres behind that to also be zoned Local
Business.
Adjoining property owner Connie Morris was concerned about the added
traffic. She said she had been hit several times just trying to
get into her driveway off US 50.
Because there were only seven members of the board voting on the
issue, according to their rules, all seven have to vote in favor
of a motion for it to pass. When a motion was made to send the item
to the Versailles Town Board with a favorable recommendation, the
vote was 6 to 1 (Jeff French did not vote) and therefore voted down.
After the vote, adjoining property owner Paul Morris stated, Its
a shame when one person can keep someone from bringing a business
into the town. The rezone will now go to the Town of Versailles
to be heard at their July 12 meeting.
Paul Anderson, president of the Ripley County Farm Bureau, spoke
to the Commission of division of farm ground in Ripley County. He
was concerned because of the people who move into Ripley County
and then complain about the farming that goes on around them.
He believes one solution is Confinement Animal Feeding Operations.
Anderson said, In Jefferson County emotion ruled and the elected
officials wouldnt allow those operations in Jefferson County.
We dont want to see that happen here. He wants to protect
agriculture.
Commission President Dave Osborne said in reply to Andersons
remarks, We have been working for the past several years on
updating our zoning laws. Never once did a representative of the
Farm Bureau come to give their opinion. When we have a public hearing,
we listen to what the people who come have to say. If you dont
come, you cant be heard. You need to put butts in the seats.
Anderson agreed they needed to do a better job of that. He asked
if he could get a copy of each months agenda. He was told
it is listed in the newspaper each month.
Planning Director Tad Brinson reported the Ripley County Commissioners
had appointed Assistant Building Inspector Mike Jeffries as the
new Building Inspector. They will now take applications for a new
assistant building inspector. Brinson also said there were 43 Improvement
Location Permits issued in June of this year compared to 53 last
year.
Eight of 12 members of the Ripley County Area Planning Commission
were present: Kaye Hunter, Roger Lang, Ed Newman, Maureen Sheets,
Steve Youngman, Jeff French, Owen Menchhofer, and Dave Osborne.
Tad Brinson was present to advise the board. The next regular meeting
of the Ripley County Area Planning Commission is August 7 at 7:00
p.m. at the Commissioners Room of the Ripley County Courthouse
Annex in Versailles.
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CATHY MAY PHOTO
Paul Anderson, president of the Farm Bureau, addresses
the Ripley County Area Planning Commission on saving agricultural
land.
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