Spot zoning decried

Ray Maloney questioned an Allen County Planning Commission recommendation to permit spot zoning to the favor of TJ Towing east of Gas along U.S. 54.
Terry McDonald, the owner, sought a change from commercial to industrial to accommodate his towing business and other enterprises associated with vehicles. Gas council members opposed the zoning change, on grounds, in their opinions, it would be an eyesore for those approaching Gas from the east.
Maloney questioned fairness of the decision, noting he had to buy into LaHarpe to expand his salvage business, which includes a field of vehicles, many of which eventually are recycled.
“I think spot zoning opens a Pandora’s Box,” Maloney declared, saying “two or three other guys have” a few acres they may wanted rezoned the same. He cautioned that could lead to a feed lot, asphalt plant or batch  plant where otherwise one would not be permitted.
Also, Maloney said, “If anyone can get zoning, what does that make my business worth,” if he were to decide to sell and would have to compete with another nearby allowed by spot zoning.
Chairman Tom Williams said commissioners would consider the planners’ decision at a later meeting and discuss the zoning more fully then. Ultimate decision lies with commissioners; planners only make a recommendation.

COUNTY COUNSELOR Alan Weber told commissioners Monarch Cement “would be coming” to ask planners to recommend a variance so it could quarry dirt on a large parcel of land it owns about two miles north of Humboldt.
Monarch was denied a right to quarry the land previously, in large measure because 1400 Street, rock road, would be used for part of trucks’ route to its plant; families living along it were opposed to having heavy trucks rolling by many times a day.
The new proposal will be to quarry dirt only and haul it to Monarch’s plant at the south edge of Humboldt by way of old U.S. 169, maintained by the county. Monarch purchased additional land, which would seem to preclude complaints. Without rock quarrying, blasting will not be a part of daily work.
Weber said Monarch geologists estimated enough dirt was on the land it owned to meet demand for the next 60 years. Dirt is a component in the manufacture of cement.
To accommodate trucks pulling from Iowa Road onto the old highway, an arrangement between county and Monarch would be made to build a curve allowing trucks to merge with traffic on the hard-surfaced road.

BILL KING, director of Public Works, said the estimate was $125,000, including $10,000 for engineering, to erect 17 metal light poles along Oregon Road, from U.S. 169 to Allen County Regional Hospital, and six similar standards at the highway intersection to fully light it.
Exactly when and how the project will unfold wasn’t decided. Carl Slaugh, Iola administrator, said he thought the city would be willing to be involved in the project, if Heartland Electric agreed to compromise its proprietary rights to supply power. Power companies have certain rights in areas they serve, which Heartland does north of Iola’s city limit.
King said what was envisioned would “really light up the area.”
Commissioners agreed to a decision by Chairman Williams not to declare the county a disaster area because of May rains. King concurred, saying rainfall, at times heavy, did not tax his crew’s ability to deal with wash-outs, which weren’t nearly as extensive as those from 2007 flooding.
“It wasn’t a disaster,” King said, although county workers did have to deal with problems of varying scope along more than 100 miles of roads.
“Worst thing you can do is panic,” he added.
Commissioners met in executive session to discuss an aside to the rainfall, which had an employee “go over Angie’s (Murphy, 911 director)” and call state emergency services about declaring a disaster in the county, which occurred with an amendment to a declaration by Gov. Sam Brownback. Murphy had called Williams, on vacation, about the situation. He advised caution until his return. No action was taken after the closed session.

GLENN BUCHHOLZ resigned his seat on Allen County Regional Hospital’s Board of Trustees because of an upcoming move to El Dorado, Weber told commissioners.
He asked they encourage anyone interested in a seat on the board to call his office, 365-1420, or Clerk Sherrie Riebel’s, 365-1407.
Terry Call, who does billing for countywide ambulance service, said there were 852 responses this year through May 31, or 5.65 calls per day. Billings total $666,555.44, with $268,379.97 paid, $230,998.41 forgiven through contractual write-offs and $164,981.58 still due.
Receipts for the year total $363,339.75, with $16,068.15 from payments predating merger of county and Iola services.
Call said collections projected an annual total of $872,000, or $128,000 less than the county’s guaranteed revenue disbursement to the city of $1 million.