Citizen Input Committee formed

Local News

February 22, 2008

Diane Raver

How land divisions and residential construction should be regulated is still on the minds of many Franklin County residents, including the county commissioners, who approved Resolution 2008-7, establishing the Citizens Input Committee for Zoning Reform, at their Feb. 19 meeting.

Commissioners Tom Wilson and Don Vonder Meulen each chose five individuals and Eric Roberts, three, to serve along with Joe Gillespie, county surveyor and Franklin County Plan Commission member, on the CIC Organizational Committee. They are Margaret Fain, Brian Patterson, Jim Suhre, Dave White, Gary Wolfe, Dennis Lackey and Mike Kohlsdorf, Brookville; Terry Duffy, Scott McDonough and Rick McMillin, West Harrison; Tom Carrow, Metamora; Paul Miller, Oldenburg; and Bobby Bane, Batesville.

Roberts will announce his two other appointments when he hears back from them.

According to the resolution, “Participation in the CIC is open to all Franklin County residents who are interested in zoning reform.”

The committee’s mission is to “review the proposed ordinances, paying special attention to the public concerns raised in the public hearing, and review and amend the current existing zoning code; rewrite the proposed ordinances in plain and simple language; present the revised ordinances to the Franklin County Area Plan Commission in the calendar year 2008.

“The CIC will maintain an open dialog with the public to ensure transparency and encourage the participation of interested citizens. The CIC may solicit outside resources to assist in the process. The task of organizing the CIC to accomplish its mission will be assigned to the organizational committee.”

Wilson emphasized, “Let’s write a good plan, folks .... something we can all live with.”

Diane Raver can be contacted at 812-934-4343, Ext. 114; or diane.raver@ batesvilleheraldtribune.com. To comment on stories, visit batesvilleheraldtribune.com.