Visualize Using Your Turn Signal. Oh, Please. Independentnews Planning Grants CUP to Restorers
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Ambulance tussle dominates QC MIKE ELLIS Questions about the ambulance service in eastern Carroll County livened up an otherwise uneventful Quorum Court meeting Monday evening. During public comments, Green Forest Fire Chief Tim Howard took issue with the service provided by Ozark EMS. “We’re going backwards instead of forwards,” he said. “We’ve gone back twenty years.” Howard said the fire department had to loan a cervical collar to an ambulance responding to a recent accident. Leon Cheatham, owner of Ozark EMS, said he had not heard about that incident, but noted that his ambulances passed state inspection last week. He said the company brought in two more ambulances last week, for a total of four paramedic trucks and one for transfers. He also passed out copies of reports showing Ozark’s response times. The state requires that a vehicle leave the station within two minutes after an emergency call, and Ozark averages 72 seconds. He also said the time en route to a call averaged less than 10 minutes, Blooming in season – The garden at the Crescent Hotel was abuzz with authors signing copies of their books last Sunday during the although it would take considerably longer to 11th annual Books in Bloom. Authors also spoke about their work and aspects of publishing and writing. Pictured, Brian Biggs signs a copy reach some parts of southern Carroll County. of one of his illustrated works. PHOTO BY JEREMIAH ALVARADO Green Forest Mayor Charlie Reece has worked with a committee to make recommendations about the long-range future of ambulance service in the This Week’s INDEPENDENT Thinker Inside the ESI eastern half of the county. He said the committee We’re such suckers for will meet for the final time on May 26, and will brilliance that’s also precious. Planning 2 then forward its recommendations to the quorum Cincinnati cop James Planning – Elk Street 3 court. Reece said that information would include Givens was sitting in his Planning – Ghost Tours 4 submissions from several ambulance providers. patrol car last week when Tyson’s Expansion 4 In his comments at the close of the meeting, he heard a pecking at his Food Truck Committee 5 County Judge Sam Barr took issue with Howard’s door. Givens saw a goose, What We Need to Know 6 statement. “We’re in better shape than we’ve ever so naturally he tossed her Plein Air 7 been, with four vehicles instead of three,” he said. some food. But she wouldn’t Independent Mail 8 “I feel like we’re going in the right direction.” have it. Instead she quacked, PHOTO FROM YOUTUBE/GIVENS In other business: walked away, then came back and started pecking again. Independent Guestatorial 9 • Sam Ward was approved for another term on the Givens decided to follow her. Constables on Patrol 10 West Carroll County Ambulance District. Justice The goose led Givens 100 yards away, near a creek, where one Class of 2016 11-13 of the Peace Jack Deaton said, “He’s done a great of her goslings was all tangled up in a Mother’s Day balloon string. The Nature of Eureka 14 job, and he’s agreed to come back.” Givens thought if he approached the gosling, mama would come Astrology 16 • The JPs approved $250,000 for radio upgrades after him. But Officer Cecilia Charron showed up, walked over and Indy Soul 18 at central dispatch. freed the baby goose while its mother stood there and supervised. Art Attack 19 • A public hearing is set for 1 p.m. on Friday, May When the little one was untangled, the geese waddled to the water Dropping A Line 21 20, concerning the Tyson Foods expansion in and swam away. Green Forest, which will receive a tax abatement So… animals asking humans for help… we’re liking it. Crossword 21 QUORUM COURT continued on page 2 Classifieds 22 Visualize using your turn signal. Oh, please. INDEPENDENTNews Planning grants CUP to restorers NICKY BOYETTE feet, Branstetter and McCoy also asked for Chris Fischer said he agreed with Ostrander, on the other hand, gave “an For the third meeting in a row, the a waiver of the 200-ft. rule. Mitchell’s sentiments, but suggested enthusiastic two thumbs up” to the Planning Commission was presented with Alderman David Mitchell, who owns Planning “make more information available application. Ken and Debbie Davis noted an application May 10 for a Conditional the Heart of the Hills B&B and which is about applications as we go through this “the property was literally falling apart,” Use Permit (CUP) for a two-unit Bed within 200 feet of 8 Washington, spoke in awkward CUP period.” and restoration plans “are an asset to the & Breakfast at 8 Washington. Henry favor of the application. He pointed out the Nine letters were read into the record, city.” Tyson Burden said the property had Branstetter, co-applicant with Tom McCoy, area is more commercial than residential, and the score was 7-1 in favor of the been abandoned “but they’ve saved it. He told commissioners they wanted to restore and Planning had granted a CUP to the application with one letter making points on added, “I can’t imagine how else such a the nearly 6000 sq. ft. building into “a place previous owners three years ago. He stated both sides of the discussion. large property could be used.” where people stop and take pictures,” but to the restoration would enhance nearby Bill King stated in his letter he Other nearby neighbors stated their accomplish the goal they needed cash flow. property values and urged Planning not to owned property within 200 feet, and in support and appreciation that the applicants Since there are other B&Bs within 200 “continue down the denial path.” his opinion the applicants were an asset took on the challenge of cleaning up the to the neighborhood. He stated, however, property. QUORUM COURT continued from page 1 especially when they affect neighboring he would be opposed to the CUP if off- McCoy pointed out the previous from the county. property, but provisions concerning street parking did not follow City Code. approval from Planning had been for a • The county is seeking bids to resurface disabled vehicles went too far for him. He also encouraged Planning to look at the three-unit B&B and the current application Mundell Road, although Barr said the Road “I’m just letting you know how I feel,” definitions in City Code related to B&Bs was for two units, so there should be no Department may not have enough funds to he said. and bring them up to date. problem complying with requirements for complete the entire length of the road. • JP Chuck Olsen said the densely- Gwen Bennett stated in her letter she parking. • In a look ahead, JP Larry Swofford said populated Grassy Knob area would was opposed to granting a variance to the Commissioner Melissa Greene the quorum court will soon consider an welcome some of these restrictions, and 200-foot rule, which she said was in place commented she was on Planning when the ordinance about unsanitary conditions, Swofford said he had no problem with for a good reason. In her opinion, a variance previous CUP was granted, and when the but he thought the ordinance “was a subordinate service district passing its would cast a shadow over future decisions plan for the previous owners did not work walking a dangerous, close line to county own restrictions, but balked at passing by setting a precedent that she said was out, the property sat untended. “It needs a planning.” Swofford said he agreed with regulations that would affect the entire “equivalent to spot-zoning.” use,” she said. the provisions regarding sanitary issues, county. In her letter, nearby neighbor Sandra PLANNING continued on page 17 2 | ES Independent | May 18, 2016 | eureka.news INDEPENDENTNews 23 Elk CUP: Planning reconsiders NICKY BOYETTE would have to vote for reconsideration. with city officials. “We were diligent in our Planning Chair Steve Beacham told During Public Comments, alderman efforts to fulfill all the requirements and felt commissioners last Tuesday that city Mickey Schneider commented, “What we had satisfactorily done so,” however, she council chose not to make a decision on the happened to 23 Elk was sinful.” She said said she was unprepared that “people far appeal of Planning’s denial of a Conditional it is a personal irritation “when one person outside our neighborhood would be allowed Use Permit for a one-unit B&B at 23 Elk spreads innuendoes and lies to get their to bully and harass our neighbors, as well at its April 12 meeting, but instead sent way,” and there was no reason to pit neighbor as spread rumors and lies about us. A group the application back to Planning because against neighbor. of up to four women organized a smear there was new information. He stated the Alderman David Mitchell said he also campaign against us.” Martone commented procedure Planning must follow requires had concerns about the decision regarding she and her husband would have met with applicants Gary Toub and Kathy Martone 23 Elk, and encouraged Planning to consider neighbors to reassure them of the facts of the to present additional data supporting a gamut of issues related to B&Bs including situation if they had only known. their application, and 75 percent of the the 200-ft. rule, the phrase in City Code Toub said they have since tried to commission must vote to reconsider the “same or similar,” and the impact of Airbnb talk to those who previously opposed their CUP request again at a subsequent meeting.