Commissioners discuss forming a planning commission
Commissioners plan to have nominations for a planning commission by the next meeting so it can meet its goals of considering a zoning ordinance by the end of the year.
The council approved funding, and commissioners approved the contract with American StructurePoint to move forward with the framework the company developing the county’s comprehensive plan has been working on.
County Attorney Greg Schnarr is drafting an ordinance to create the advisory planning commission.
The planning commission will have nine members. Four are set by law: a commissioner, a county council member, the county extension agriculture educator and the county surveyor. Five are citizens who live outside city and town limits. County Attorney Greg Schnarr said residents in a city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction can serve. And no more than three citizens may come from the same political party.
With deadlines looming, the commissioners agreed to bring two candidate names to the Oct. 19 regular meeting, ideally from their own district. Schnarr will check the names for party balance.
The county will also post on Facebook seeking applicants.
The Dubois County Commissioners appoint residents to a number of boards each year. These appointments play a vital role in our community and help make important decisions.
We are currently looking for individuals to serve in two important capacities.
First, we are looking to fill 5 positions on a new Advisory Plan Commission (APC) Board. In the most basic sense, the APC will be a nine-member board responsible for guiding land use, development, and zoning in unincorporated areas and making recommendations to the Dubois County Commissioners. Candidates must live in the unincorporated areas of the county. There will likely be one meeting per month. Statute requires a board composition with members from different political parties based on your previous primary voting record.
The second board position is on the Northeast Dubois School Board. The appointed member will serve on the board to govern the public school district by setting policies, approving budgets, and hiring the superintendent. We would like to have a member with financial experience to help the district with funding and budget issues. Candidates must live in the NE Dubois School District.
Please send an email of interest to commissioners@duboiscountyin.org if you believe you would be a good fit for either position or would like additional information.
The new planning committee would meet for the first time on October 27.
Blessinger clarified that appointing the commission can occur independently of the zoning. “We can have an advisory planning commission board and not have zoning,” he said.
