(Spirit Lake)– A hearing on a request from Donald and Nancy Yarns to rezone land they own on the northeast side of Big Spirit Lake got cut short at Monday’s meeting of the Dickinson County Planning and Zoning Commission.
The proposed rezoning has come under fire from environmentalists concerned it would destroy some rare aquatic plants known as “bulrushes”.
No sooner did board chairman David Baker open the meeting, but an attorney representing the Yarns requested the hearing be continued to a later, unspecified date and time when all P & Z would be present.
Only four of the seven members were present at Monday’s meeting. The other three reportedly were on vacation. The four members that were present voted in favor of granting the continuance.
That didn’t sit well with many people…especially those who had driven quite some distance for the hearing. And it came under fire from several supervisors, who were also present for Monday’s hearing. Supervisor Wayne Northey was especially critical, saying anyone who puts a request before the P & Z should be required to put up some sort of bond that would be non-refundable if they opt to postpone a hearing at the last minute. But Zoning Administrator David Kolhaase said the burden can’t be placed on the applicant…saying they have certain rights and being able to request a continuance at the last minute is one of those. Baker pointed fingers at the supervisors, saying if they’re unhappy with the attendance records of commission members that were appointed by them, they (the supervisors) should visit with their appointees.
Supervisor Mardi Allen also sounded off, saying the P & Z was criticized for voting on the Nielsen re-zoning issue with only four members present, but are refusing to vote on this issue with only four members present.
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