The Henry County Board of Supervisors rejected the recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission at the board meeting on Thursday. This recommendation is over the alternative energy overlay ordinance. Absent from Thursday’s meeting was supervisor White.
At the September 17th Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing, a commissioner recommended to repeal the existing Title 6 Chapter 2 Section 11 2-6 and replacing it with the ordinance proposed by the Henry County Watchmen LLC. This motion died due to a lack of 2nd. A motion passed unanimously to table the Henry County Watchmen LLC ordinance until the following week.
At the board of supervisors meeting, board chair Greg Moeller asked for the legal opinion of the Assistant County Attorney, Steven Giebelhausen. After reviewing the proposed ordinance, Giebelhausen said that he believes the proposed ordinance will not hold up in court, and therefore it was his advice that it should be rejected by the board of supervisors.
Supervisor Lindeen made the motion to reject the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission suggesting to “substitute the ordinance proposed by Henry County Watchmen LLC.” Moeller seconded the motion, and it was approved.
The board then voted to set a public hearing for Tuesday, October 8th, at 6:00pm to further discuss the changes to the ordinance that the supervisors recommended. A meeting place has not been finalized yet, although the Planning and Zoning Director is waiting for confirmation on the use of the courtroom once again.
One citizen sent multiple emails to the board of supervisors after the September 17th Planning and Zoning meeting (read the report here: Planning and Zoning Public Hearing ) but has not received any response. As one of the 3 people that put together the proposed Watchmen ordinance, she estimated that 85% of what is in the proposal comes from ordinances in other counties, believing that it would stand up in court.
The proposed ordinance put forth by the Henry County Watchmen, as well as the working ordinance, are on the county website at www.henrycounty.iowa.gov
Also at the meeting, a motion was approved proclaiming October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Shell Feijo and Shelby Ridenour presented to the board as representatives for DVIP/RVAP, which works with law enforcement, hospitals, social services, and those who reach out themselves. They provide a wide range of services, such as advocacy and counseling, which assists with long term healing, since many children are impacted by domestic violence. In fact, 1 in 3 Americans have witnessed domestic violence. Marc Lindeen thanked the group for all the work that they do.
Good work is being done on Franklin Avenue (W55), which is currently closed from 300th Street south to Liberty Street. Flaggers will be utilized as they work in multiple areas along Franklin. Milling operations may begin late next week or early the following week, which will be a big step in the project.
The Henry County Board of Supervisors will meet again next Thursday, October 3rd, at 9:00am in the county courthouse.