BOARD OF McPHERSON COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
AUGUST 2, 2005
REGULAR MEETING
10:00 A.M.
ALL PRESENT
The following items were added to the agenda: 1) Second Extension of Real Estate Purchase
Contract; 2) Discuss Strategic Plan and 3) Request for Employee Appreciation
Lunch. Commissioner Patrick made a
motion to approve the agenda as amended.
Commissioner Terry seconded. All voted aye.
Deb Colle of Delmore Township, Pat
Weibert of Bonneville Township and Julie Young of Delmore Township spoke to the
Commissioners during Public Input at 10:00 a.m. Ms. Colle showed photographs she took of the wind turbines in
Woodward, Oklahoma emphasizing the size of the turbines. She said they started with 34 turbines and
in two years have increased to 68. Ms
Weibert stated that she owns property on both sides of the proposed site where
the turbines might be built in McPherson County and she feels they will ruin
the look of the land. Ms. Young
presented 10 facts about wind turbines and their effects. Since a Commissioner stated at an earlier
meeting that he was only interested in facts, not opinions, each of the facts
she presented referenced the source.
Commissioner Terry made a motion
to approve the minutes of July 26, 2005 as presented. Commissioner Patrick seconded.
All voted aye.
Commissioner Terry made a motion
to approve the checks and claims (one manual check) and payroll. Commissioner Patrick seconded. All voted aye.
Commissioner Patrick made a motion
to approve the adds and abates and landfill register of July 29, 2005. Commissioner Terry seconded. All voted aye.
Mr. Witte presented a second
extension of the real estate contract for the purchase of land to be used for
the future expansion of the McPherson Area Solid Waste Utility. Commissioner Patrick made a motion to sign
the extension as presented.
Commissioner Terry seconded. All
voted aye.
Commissioner Terry presented a
request from the Employee Committee to hold the second annual Employee
Appreciation Lunch on September 7, 2005.
They also requested that the Commissioners “volunteer” to cook and serve
the meat again this year. It was a
consensus of the Commissioners to approve the Employee Appreciation Lunch and
they agreed to cook and serve the meat.
There was discussion on the
county’s Strategic Plan. A questionnaire will be sent to county residents and
Mr. Witte asked the Commissioners to review questions from a sample
questionnaire and choose and/or add questions they would like on McPherson
County’s questionnaire regarding future plans for the County.
There was brief discussion on the
2006 County Budget.
Chad Bahr, Planning & Zoning Administrator,
joined the meeting at 10:30 a.m. with the following agenda items:
A. Request from Western Wireless L.L.C., dba Cellular One via Faulk
and Foster of Grand Rapids, MI, to erect a cellular tower at 153 Old Highway 81
in an Agricultural Zoning District.
After discussion, it was suggested by the Commissioners that Mr. Bahr
look into adding a requirement to future requests similar to this one that a
bond be required from the applicant to cover costs of eventual removal of the
structure. Commissioner Terry made a
motion to approve Resolution 2005-14 “….approving a conditional use permit
(C.U.P. 2005-1) in the County of McPherson in the A-1 Agricultural Zoning
District”. Commissioner Patrick
seconded. Chairman Schroeder voted
aye. Commissioner Patrick voted
aye. Commissioner Terry voted aye.
Commission Meeting
August 2, 2005
Page 2
B. Presented C.U.P. 2005-2, a request by Robert D. Bailey for a
sketch plan review for a proposed eight-lot subdivision in an A-1, Agricultural
District in New Gottland Township. The
Planning Board has approved the request.
The subdivision will require a private road and it is understood by Mr.
Bailey that there will be no County involvement in building or maintaining the
private road. After discussion, Commissioner
Patrick made a motion to approve the sketch plan review as requested. Commissioner Terry seconded. All voted aye.
C. Presented a
possible amendment to the County Zoning Regulations regarding recreational
outdoor activities. The amendment would
add the following (Item 25) to Article 4, Section 102, Paragraph C: “25.
Recreational activities outdoors, such as miniature golf, archery and
commercial golf driving ranges.”
Commissioner Terry made a motion to approve Resolution 05-15 amending
Article 4, Section 102, Paragraph C, adding Item 25 as requested. Commissioner Patrick seconded. Chairman
Schroeder voted aye. Commissioner
Patrick voted aye. Commissioner Terry
voted aye.
D. Presented a
possible amendment to the County Zoning Regulations regarding storage of
combustible/explosive materials. The
amendment would add the following (Item 26) to Article 4, Section 102,
Paragraph C: “26. Storage in quantity of such items as anhydrous ammonia, oil,
gas and other products which may be considered as highly explosive, combustible
or of a volatile nature.” The Planning
& Zoning Board has approved the amendment.
After discussion, Commissioner Patrick made a motion to return the
request for an amendment to the Planning & Zoning Board for more research,
specifically the problems to farmers and others who use these materials in
large quantities as a necessary part of their livelihood. Commissioner Terry seconded. All
voted aye.
At 11:20 a.m.
Dillard Webster, Emergency Management/Communications Director, joined the
meeting with a Personnel Change Notice (PCN) to hire Angela Wedel as a
Communications Tech (12/A) effective August 3, 2005. Commissioner Terry made a motion to approve the PCN as presented. Commissioner Patrick seconded. All
voted aye.
Dianna Carter,
County Appraiser, joined the meeting at 11:20 a.m. and requested ten minutes,
from 11:20 to 11:30 a.m. in executive session to discuss non-elected personnel
in the Appraiser’s Office and to include Mr. Witte. Commissioner Patrick made a motion to go into executive session
as requested. Commissioner Terry
seconded. All voted aye. The Commissioners returned to open session at
11:30 a.m. No action was taken during
executive session. Ms Carter presented
a Personnel Change Notice (PCN) for Kevin Beakey, promoting him from
Cartographer to GIS Coordinator (17/I to 20/G) effective July 31, 2005. Commissioner Patrick made a motion to
approve the PCN as presented. Commissioner
Terry seconded. All voted aye.
John Klenda,
County Counselor, joined the meeting at 11:30 a.m. and requested fifteen
minutes (from 11:30 to 11:45 a.m.) in executive session under the
attorney/client privilege, to discuss possible litigation and to include Mr.
Witte. Commissioner Terry made a motion
to go into executive session as requested.
Commissioner Patrick seconded. All voted aye. The Commissioners
returned to open session at 11:45 a.m.
No action was taken during executive session.
The Commissioners
looked at various options for a Commission table/bench for the Commission Room
in the Bank of America Building. After
discussion, Commissioner Terry made a motion to have Randa Construction build a
bench in the Commission Room.
Commissioner Patrick seconded. All voted aye.
At 12:15 p.m. the
Commissioners recessed and reconvened at 12:20 p.m. at the Pear Tree Restaurant
for a working lunch/budget work session.
Commissioner Terry made a motion to publish the 2006 Budget as
corrected. Commissioner Patrick
seconded. All voted aye. No other action was taken during the work
session. At 1:15 p.m. Commissioner
Terry made a motion to adjourn.
Commissioner Patrick seconded. All voted aye.
Commission Meeting
August 2, 2005
Page 3
Commission Minutes taken by Irene R. Goering.
Don L. Schroeder, Chairman
Duane
J. Patrick, Vice-Chairman
Harris
G. Terry, Commissioner
Attest: County Clerk
Susan
R. Meng