Planning, Zoning and Land Records Committee

January 12 PZLR Committee 2012 Minutes (22 KB)

Planning, Zoning, & Land Records (PZLR) Committee members present: J. Ashford, J. Gaalswyk, F. Halfen, G. Lehman, D. Nobs

Others present: Sandra Cohoon, Steven Cohoon, G. Cummings, B. Cunningham, P. Dederich, K. Koehl, T. Liebman, B. Michalek, P. Murray, P. Pohle, R. Puttkamer, K. Schauf, B. Simmert, V. Solomon

At 8:40 a.m. Chair Lehman called the Planning, Zoning and Land Records Committee to order and certified to be in compliance with the Open Meetings Law.

Adopt agenda: Motion by Halfen/Ashford to adopt the agenda. Motion carried, all PZLR members in favor.

Discussion and possible action on sign ordinance:

Motion to change the maximum height of farm identification signs from 12 feet to 15 feet under 7.36(3)(f) on Page 12 by Halfen/Gaalswyk. Motion carried, all in favor.

Motion by Halfen/Gaalswyk to change under 7.36(1)(f) on Page 12 to remove “…on the same lot” and to read “One per parcel to which the sign pertains.” Motion carried, all in favor.

Motion by Halfen/Ashford to change the maximum copy area for farm identification from 25 square feet to 32 square feet per sign under 7.36(2)(f) on Page 12. Motion carried, all in favor except Gaalswyk opposed.

Agreed to leave 7.36(f) Farm Identification as is on Page 12.

Motion by Halfen/Nobs to change the maximum height of farm crop identification signs from 6 feet to 10 feet and leave everything else the same on Page 14 under 7.38(3)(a) Farm Crop Identification. Motion carried, all in favor.

Motion by Nobs/Halfen to allow the six second change in the entire county instead of once every 24 hours. Motion carried, all in favor.

Motion to change in 7.34(2) and 7.39(1)(b) electronic message signs to 50 percent of the allowable copy area by Halfen/Ashford. Motion carried, all in favor with Nobs opposed.

Motion by Halfen/Ashford to add on Page 11 7.34(4) “In the event of a malfunction in any portion of the electronic message sign, the sign shall be turned off upon notification until the malfunction is corrected.” Motion carried, all in favor.

It was the consensus that it is not necessary to define malfunction.

Motion by Halfen/Ashford to accept the sign ordinance with changes made today. Motion carried, all in favor.

Preliminary discussion of the process to consider whether to change the County Surveyor position from an elected to an appointed position:

Schauf noted that there has been discussion regarding possibly changing the surveyor from an elected position to an appointed position with this committee previously, and it has come up with the Finance Committee and Personnel Committee. She provided a proposed timeline to the committee with the process being completed by April 2012. It was suggested that it may be beneficial to have this done prior to the April County Board meeting due to there being quite a few new supervisors. The Personnel Director is conducting research and developing an options grid for the surveyor position. The initial presentation will be made to the Personnel Committee on January 13 and information will be provided to the PZLR as soon as possible. The PZLR may meet with the Executive and Legislative Committee on February 6; Halfen will not be able to attend. If there are any personnel changes, the Personnel Committee will need to take action at their March meeting and then possibly at the March Board meeting.

Dederich expressed that job responsibilities need to be better defined. The committee requested that job descriptions also be researched. Discussed that the county could adopt an ordinance instead of a job description.

Motion by Halfen/Ashford to adjourn at 9:38 a.m. Motion carried, all in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Joel Gaalswyk, Secretary