Staff writer
A Lincolnville resident embroiled since summer in a dispute with the county over storing cars, tires, scrap metal, and the like at the edge of Lincolnville asked county commissioners Tuesday for a six-month extension to get the property cleaned up.
Gavin Shields has stored the items on a lot bordering Lincolnville since he closed his automotive shop in the summer.
After the county planning and zoning office received complaints about the property, Shields was told he needed to apply for a conditional use permit for a salvage yard.
In August, the board of zoning appeals recommended against a conditional permit.
Shields was given six months to remove the items from the property, but asked commissioners Tuesday to extend that time.
Shields apologized for the delay in getting the job done, but said he doesn’t see how he can get it done and asked for an additional six months.
Commissioner Randy Dallke pointedly told Shields the county could clean it up for him and send a bill for the work.
Shields replied that neither he nor the property owners could afford to pay the bill.
“I don’t have any problem giving him an additional six months, but I don’t want, at the end of six months, to have to be dealing with the issue again,” commissioner Dianne Novak said.
Commissioners declined to make a decision immediately, opting to postpone a week or two.
Emma Tajchman, planning and zoning director, told commissioners the city of Marion has updated its flood maps, changing flood plain areas.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is in the process of revising flood plain maps in the area and the county will be included, Tajchman said.
A meeting about the process will be at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at Marion community center.
David Yearout, a consultant for planning and zoning, talked with commissioners about his fee for an upcoming county comprehensive plan.
The current comprehensive plan was developed in 2003 and work on a new plan will begin this month.
Commissioners agreed to pay Yearout a flat fee of $9,500 for his work on the plan. The anticipated timeline is to have the plan done in September.