Florence officials adopt new zoning regulations
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News Editor
Florence City Council stuck to its guns Monday night and approved the final zoning revisions as presented by the city's planning and zoning committee.
On a motion by Dan Ludwig to "accept the proposal as presented and put the proposal forth as city ordinance 786," and a second by Trayce Warner, the council voted 3-1 (with Bryan Harper opposed) to approve the measure.
Prior to Ludwig's motion, Mayor Greg Winn accepted comments from some of the dozen observers at the meeting. Leonard Ellis and Gary Nesser voiced concerns about the "grandfather clause" and the rights of citizens to do as they please with their own property.
Ellis also noted that he felt elected officials should defer to the people who elected them rather than deciding the outcome themselves.
"I think the citizens of Florence should be allowed to vote on this in the next election," he said. "In fact, I think it is your obligation to turn this back over to the community for a vote."
Councilman Randy Mills and Warner both expressed concerns about citizens' lack of knowledge about zoning issues.
"Only about 30 people showed up at the community meeting we had to inform and educate about this (zoning)," said Warner. "Even if every single one of them understood everything there is to know, 30 people is not a well-educated public.
"I feel like I did my homework. I talked to my constituents and studied the plan we're looking at. I learned what there is to know about zoning," she added. "I take this job seriously and I think I am well-prepared to vote."
Additional comments were heard. Zoning board member Judy Mills reminded the public that the committee had been meeting for four years, that there were members on the committee who were both for and against zoning, the city attorney had approved it, and the council had reviewed it several times.
"At any time, any one of you could have come to the committee with your concerns, your issues, your objections," she said. "You could even have asked for a spot on the committee and you'd have been welcome. That was the time to bring up your objections."
Del Leeds agreed with Judy Mills.
"If I had spent four years as a volunteer on this committee trying to do something for this town and the council didn't vote in favor of it, I would be upset," he said.
"And another thing, people," he added, "you are going to have to just face up to this. What we have been doing for the last 50 years ain't working,
"We are DYING here. It's time to do something different. It's time to do something for Florence, something for the common good."
Randy Mills called for the question and the motion was made and carried.
The committee of seven and chairman Sarah Cope were thanked for the many hours they put into the zoning plan.
Prior to the zoning issue Mayor Winn appointed the following to city positions: city clerk/court clerk, Janet Robinson; city judge, Bryson Mills; city attorney, Marilyn Wilder; fire chief, Tim Parmley; city treasurer, Mary Jane Grimmett; police chief, Conroy Miller; city superintendent, Phil Baldwin; and Americans with Disabilities Act officer, Del Leeds.
The appointments were unanimously approved by council and those appointees in attendance were sworn in by Mayor Winn.
Councilman Warner was elected president of the council.
In other business the council:
— agreed to reimburse Michelle Avis $103 for carpooling expenses she incurred going to firefighter training in Lincolnville.
— approved payment of warrant 2007-09 in the amount of $26,613.80.
— changed the council meeting time from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
— heard KDHE will test water from the water plant.
— agreed to hire Christy Jo Potocnik for 26 hours a week as assistant city clerk. Potocnik will begin on Wednesday at a pay rate of $8 an hour.
— reviewed a quarterly report by ADA officer Leeds. In his report Leeds used the name "Pepper" as a pseudonym for an individual who lodged an anonymous complaint about the city's web site and its handicap accessibility. Council members asked that he clarify the pseudonym designation to avoid any possible future confusion about the complaint.
— heard there are many ditches that facilitate little or no drainage because they are clogged with litter, weeds, and grass or need to be re-trenched. No action was taken.
— heard new billing software will be installed in June and Robinson will receive training to use the program.
— heard a grant application had been submitted for new bunker gear for the fire department. Parmley also reported three new firefighter applications.
— tabled for more information a decision on the dates for police chief Miller's training, discussion of pay raises for public works employees, resolution of a question about Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage for Robinson, a decision on new municipal court/police software, a plan to drain the water tower for repairs, and review of long-term budget planning.
— approved an expenditure of $346 for a "trash pump" (that pumps water out of a work area) at the water plant.
— discussed the need for several new water meters and the practice and method of estimating water usage. No action was taken.
— heard from councilman Bryan Harper the ball field needs to be sprayed for weeds and the county should be contacted to grade the roads going south out of town and north to the cemetery.
— heard from councilman Warner that ball park bleachers need to be repaired, weeds pulled or sprayed at Veterans Park, and additional gravel spread on Hillcrest Cemetery lanes before Memorial Day. She also requested the city investigate the cost of light bulb guards to cover the lights in Grandview Park shelter house to prevent vandalism.
