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Lack of specifics “disappointing” |
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Thursday, 19 November 2009 |
By LESLIE MIELKE
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BLACKFOOT — Bingham County’s commissioners got lessons in history and constitutional law during Tuesday’s hearing on the 13th Draft of the Proposed Code Revisions. They also got useful information from people who will be affected by the Planning and Zoning Commission’s interpretation of the changes.
Fifty-five people testified. Two hundred forty-nine signed in.
However, commissioner Ladd Carter said he and his colleagues were disappointed with the lack of specific testimony overall.
Most every seat in Courtroom #1 was filled; nine people sat in the jury box, extra chairs were added at the back and front of the room. People stood along the walls and some were seated in the hallway.
The public meeting lasted from 6:30 until 10:50 p.m. Each person could speak for five minutes. Everyone who wanted to make a comment did.
“We heard history lessons and a lot about constitutional law,” Carter said. “We were hoping for specific comments on the ordinances; for things that are wrong so they might be changed.”
Carter said he was impressed with the testimony of DaLon Esplin and the men representing Bingham Co-op. “They had done their homework,” he said.
Commissioner Donavan Harrington said he was disappointed there wasn’t more comment directed to the ordinance.
Harrington also said he was impressed with the men representing Bingham Co-op. “They had researched and considered how the ordinance would impact their business.”
“We would like to see this made better,” he said.
Board Chairman Cleone Jolley said in the past, the Planning & Zoning (P&Z) Commission has tried to change the ordinances but there was some opposition, the changes were dropped.
Some changes in the 13th draft include airport and radioactive overlays, Jolley said. “Definitions have been expanded a lot to help clarify things.
“People have the misconception that this proposed draft was written by the commissioners,” Jolley said. “We didn’t write it.
“Because we have gone through it paragraph by paragraph and line by line, it has been interpreted that we were supporting the ordinance,” he said.
“Our task is to pass an ordinance that is good for the county,” Jolley said. “We must live with it, too.
“If people don’t feel it benefits the county, it probably won’t pass,” Jolley said.
The county commissioners will meet with the members of the P&Z commission on Wednesday, Dec. 2.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 20 November 2009 )
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