Planning rift spills into meeting
Staff writer
A months-long dispute with planning and zoning boiled over Monday as zoning commission member David Mueller demanded an end to what he called county commissioner Clarke Dirks’ attacks.
Mueller asked commissioners to formally declare Dirks’ concerns about him unfounded.
“Today, take a stand and end the unproductive and unethical obsession,” Mueller said.
Dirks has attacked planning and zoning nearly every week “for the past year and a half,” Mueller said.
Commissioners took no action on his requests.
The dispute flared in February after Dirks argued that Mueller should have recused himself from a wind-farm discussion because Mueller previously worked as a landowner liaison for the Diamond Vista wind project.
It resurfaced this month when commissioners considered a stricter conflict-of-interest policy for planning and zoning.
Planning commissioner Brandy Smith and rural Goessel resident Alisha Weiser criticized the proposal. Commissioners unanimously decided to discard it and rely instead on existing state standards.
“What happened to Commissioner Dirks’ conflict-of-interest policy that he has been demanding for over a year?” Mueller said. “Now he drops it and blames someone else?”
Wind-farm opponent Tom Britain then complained that planning and zoning wasn’t enforcing county regulations.
Turbines near his rural Florence home were so loud Monday morning that he thought they exceeded the county’s 55-decibel limit, Britain said.
Britain filed a complaint with planning and zoning, but questioned why it was referred to Orsted, operator of the wind farm.
“All we’re asking you to do is enforce regulations,” Britain said.
Orsted had tried several times to contact Britain without success, county administrator Tina Spencer said.
Spencer proposed using independent investigators. The county would pay investigators and could seek reimbursement from the wind farm, she said.
An outside investigator would give complainants more confidence, commissioner Jonah Gehring said.
Commissioner Kent Becker worried that taxpayers could be stuck paying for meritless complaints.
Commissioners directed Spencer to develop a proposed process.
Lake hall
Commissioners also voted Monday to authorize up to $2,500 to evaluate possible mold at Marion County Lake hall after flooding damaged its interior June 21 and Aug. 7. Drainage work ordered after the second flood has been completed.
American Metropolitan Environmental quoted $1,970 for an inspection and report. Laboratory samples would cost extra.
Road work
Commissioners authorized up to $48,000 to rent a road recycler for 330th Rd. between Limestone and Quail Creek Rds.
The six-mile stretch also is being considered for a $4.2 million complete rebuild.
The recycler would make the road safer but would not repair underlying problems with its base, road and bridge superintendent Steve Hudson said.
A month’s rental was quoted at $31,287. Freight and surcharges could raise the cost to roughly $39,523, with another $8,000 possible for new teeth.
Other business
Commissioners also appointed sheriff’s investigator Aaron Christner as deputy county coroner and they also accepted a $1,650 bid to repaint a Kansas Forest Service Gator red, as required, for wildland firefighting.