It’s sometimes easier to see the whole picture when you aren’t a part of it.

I think that’s the case of Marion City Council.

It’s obvious that their intentions are to make the best and most feasible decisions for the good of the community but their decision-making skills are being clouded by uncertainty caused by an impending lawsuit and other outside influences.

Previously the council had approved a truck parking lot on Grant Street that was met with resistance. Eventually an appeal was filed with the city’s board of zoning appeals to review the use of the property. The BZA determined the use of the property was not in compliance with the city’s zoning regulations and ordered the owner to cease operations.

Since that decision, the property owner has filed a lawsuit against the city and the BZA.

Being a little gun-shy is understandable but at Monday’s meeting, it became obvious that there is more work that needs to be done to make this a “development-friendly” city.

The council was asked by the economic development director to consider leasing the never-occupied, city-owned shell building at the industrial park to the same company that plans to build across the highway in the business park. The lease would be short-term, allowing the business to begin operations while it went through the proper channels at the permanent site.

The council decided to have the city’s planning commission take a “look see” at the use of the building before approving the agreement. That certainly is the council’s prerogative but will this be the practice for every request that comes before the city?

The question was asked what the council would do when a really big project wanted to come to town. Would the council/city be in the position to accommodate or would the business be discouraged and look further up the road?

A suggestion was made at the meeting for the council to consider adjusting the zoning regulations to allow the zoning administrator to make some administrative decisions. Perhaps that is the answer.

Why not just give a quick call to a planning and zoning consultant who has done the court battles and can properly interpret the regulations? Perhaps that is the answer.

Interpreting regulations is a difficult task. That’s why consultants are important and necessary, and don’t have to cost a lot of money.

As an “outsider” (not on the council) looking in, it appears to me that personalities again are impeding the government process.

Let this be the time for our elected leaders to set aside their differences and work with other pseudo-government leaders for the good of the community.

Let this be the time that the city sets itself up for success by having policies in place that will encourage development instead of reacting to opportunities and having to scramble to make them work.

Let’s give our elected officials encouragement to use a consultant to answer these difficult questions, so personalities can’t influence decisions.

Let’s do something now before “the big one” gets away and we’re busy pointing fingers at everyone and everything else.

— Susan berg