Regional Planning Commission

MORROW COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION 80 N. Walnut Place, Suite C Mount Gilead, OH 43338 419/946-1911

Morrow County Regional Planning Commission November 28, 2007 Meeting Minutes

I. Administrative Business

Chairman Kevin Carney called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. There were 18 members present. Members absent: Mason, Nice, Robinson, Van Horn. Members excused: None. Guests: Dick Miller

Bob Davis moved to approve the September meeting minutes, seconded by Buddy Salyer. The vote was all yes with no changes.

Kevin mentioned there will be a new meeting agenda format, which better reflect the commission’s areas of responsibility.

II. Area Clearinghouse

III. Variances

IV. Major Subdivision Projects

V. Zoning Map/Text Amendments

N/A VI. Other Business

Kevin introduced Mariann Teacher, planning office administrative assistant. She started the position three weeks ago. Kevin said he is helping train Mariann and will continue to review lot split requests until she is up to speed. Mariann gave an overview of her background. She was born and raised in Morrow County and spent the last 20 years in Florida. She owned her own real estate company for five years and worked with the city of St. Petersburg as a liaison between the Board of Realtors and the city. Mariann said she was named Realtor of the Year and has experience with strategic planning. She said she looks forward to helping the county.

Kevin reviewed the 2008 meeting schedule. Commission meetings are on the fourth Wednesday of the month, except August (the fair), November (Thanksgiving) and December (Christmas). All meetings will be held at the Community Services Building and start at 7 p.m. Mike Park moved to approve the schedule, seconded by Bill Creswell. The vote was all yes. Mariann will put an ad in The Sentinel.

VII. Reports/Updates

Staff Report

Kevin said there have been Technical Review Board meetings almost every week, and surveys continue to come in for review, although fairly slowly. He noted there will not be a year-end lot split report, but estimated splits are below 200 in total, down about a third from previous years. He said Executive Committee is reviewing lot split fees again, with an eye toward increasing them again in 2008. Executive Committee will have a recommendation in December or January.

County Commissioners Report

Dick Miller said the county’s budget problem is serious. There is a meeting on December 6 to make some decisions that will result in some fairly painful changes (although there is no alternative), he said. Dick estimated the budget shortfall this year is $440,000.

Bids for the courthouse remodeling also will be coming in Dec. 6. The work, which is being bid separately, is: beefing up the floor for the law library’s move; creating an office for Dan Green; the second courtroom; and cleaning bat guano from the bell tower. Dick said all other courthouse moves are complete. Dick said the second courtroom is necessary to get the system moving because caseloads are skyrocketing. For example, foreclosures are up 60%. He said there is a meeting set with the Supreme Court about meeting the standards for caseload turnarounds. He said the cost of crime to the county is mind-boggling; the cost for defending two indigent defendants in the recent murder case is $200,000.

Dick said the state attorney general has said that the county must designate a location for a landfill (as well as alternative energy sources). There was a difference of opinion between Charles Howland and Harry Welsh on the landfill zoning; the attorney general took the same position as Prosecutor Howland. Dick said the County Zoning Board plans to deal with all changes at the same time in the very near future.

Bob Davis asked about the jail operations story in the Marion Star. Dick reviewed the current jail finances and outlined the options available at this time. He said the cost of the Harger lawsuit to the county was $2,500 because of the county’s insurance plan.

Kevin asked Mariann to check on the terms of Chris Arndt and John Beal. The terms look like they should be up in 2008 but they’re township representatives, who normally are reappointed in odd years. At large members are reappointed in even years. Kevin mentioned at the Dec. 19 meeting, Executive Committee will recommend appointment a Regulations Review Committee. Kevin said a person came in wanting to split a 5.5 acre lot into two; because the parcel originally was a 40-acre lot, which was split into smaller lots and sold to different buyers, the individual had to pursue a Major Subdivision. Kevin said this issue is something the commission needs to review, but not ignore because when all is said and done, 12-14 lots (regardless of who owns them) create a subdivision.

Dan Rogers mentioned there is a FEMA open house about national flood insurance rate plans on Dec. 12 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the commissioners’ office.

Adjourn Bill Kreeger moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Jay Coe. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Prepared by: J. Williams Note: There was no tape-recording of this meeting (no tape available)