E911, P&Z differ on tower requirements

Board of Supervisors
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     Gary Schwab, E911 coordinator for Jones County; Michele Lubben, Land Use administrator; and Tim Fay, Planning and Zoning commissioner, all met with the Board of Supervisors during their regular meeting to discuss painting and lighting requirements on communication towers.

     Schwab said he submitted a request to the P&Z in June to have their Wind Turbines and Communication Tower Requirements Ordinance revised.

     “They decided to make no changes,” said Schwab.

     Schwab said the reason for his request stems from a federal law that was changed in 2016 for the painting and lighting requirements on towers over 200 feet tall. Schwab said he’d like to see a white beacon /strobe light on towers on during the day, and switch to red at night. The only tower in Jones County that meets the new federal qualification is the tower in Amber, which is already in compliance.

     The P&Z’s current ordinance does not allow for additional lighting on towers.

     “The FAA may come in and request the rest of our towers be marked,” warned Schwab. He said due to the low-level air traffic throughout the county, it could be a possibility. “I’m not saying they will, but there’s that chance,” added Schwab.

     Lubben said she has County Attorney Phil Parsons review the ordinance, and in his opinion, nothing changed in the federal law that would require the county to change the ordinance.

     “The government could come in and decide that towers under 200 feet would have to marked,” said Schwab.

     Lubben said the P&Z was not interested in changing its ordinance for an instance like this.

     “The 911 Board could apply for a variance with the Board of Adjustment for special circumstances,” she advised.

     Supervisor Joe Oswald asked why the P&Z was not interested in changing its ordinance.

     “We already have a good ordinance in effect,” said Fay. “It was researched thoroughly, and Jones County doesn’t need anymore flashing lights.”

     Fay, like Lubben, agreed that E911 should declare a hardship and seek a variance with the BOA. He said the hardship could be Lasso E RV, in that repainting the tower on site, if needed, would be near impossible with a business in close proximity.

     Schwab said there is not rush on resolving this issue.

     “I’m going to keep pushing no this,” said Schwab. “I’ll look at other avenues. I want to do the right thing as far as safety for our aviation community.”

In other county business:

     • After three years as the fiscal agent for the Mental Health/Disability Services of the East Central Region (MHDS-ECR), the board accepted County Auditor Janine Sulzner’s notice to withdraw from that role. Sulzner said she would still participate through the end of the current fiscal year, June 30, 2018.

     • The board re-delegated the duties of the Title VI Non-Discrimination Coordinator to County Engineer Derek Snead. Sulzner has been acting coordinator, but suggested the role go to Snead, with his department using the majority of federal funds for county projects.

     • Lubben and Parsons met with the board regarding a request to dismiss a civil citation for violating the county’s sign ordinance. Previously, the board directed Lubben to file a citation against Rick Ellison, owner of the Jones County Roadhouse in Fairview.

     Lubben urged the board to not take action at this time and wait until Ellison’s court date on Aug. 9. Parsons said Ellison could ask the court for a continuance so he could apply for a variance. However, Parsons said if he’s in violation of the county code, the Board of Adjustment should be granting that variance.

     “Not sure he can prove an undo hardship,” said Parsons.

     Lubben added Ellison also missed the deadline in which he could have applied for a variance prior to the citation being filed.

     • The board approved the re-zoning of a parcel in Wyoming Township from A-Agricultural to P-Public. This is for a new Secondary Road shop.

     They also approved the plans and specs for the new shop, a 50-by-100 feet Clear Span steel building. Snead said this facility is almost identical to the new shop in Monticello.

     A public hearing on the project will be held on Tuesday, July 25 at 10 a.m.

     • The board approved to vacate a part of Third Street beginning at Walnut Street north to West Street in Langworthy, approximately .06 of a mile. The parcels will revert to the adjacent landowners: Jay Iben and Leo and Shirley Peiffer.

     • The board approved the plans for the bridge replacement project on Bluebird Road.

     “It’s been on our list for a number of years,” commented Snead.

     The replacement project will also include a half-mile of grading.

     Snead said the project would be let in October, with a late start date of June or July 2018.

     • The board approved a request from merle Tank, Jones County Solid Waste Commission, the remove the boundary fence between the property owned by the county and the property owned by Solid Waste. The purpose of the request is to access the additional 10 acres of land the Commission recently purchased.

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