By: Donovan W. Mann – [email protected]
Dakota City, IA – The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors official approves the amendment to County Zoning Ordinance no. 26.
During the meeting of the board on Aug. 3, a public hearing was held to discuss this amendment and hold the first reading with any members of the public who wished to voice concerns. A representative of the zoning board in Ben Loots was present to provide input if needed.
The purpose of the amendment was to add language to easy the process of getting a building permit for commercial sub or switching stations. The current language makes the process lengthy and by adding this amendment the zoning board hopes to make the process easier. No general public voiced concerns over the amendment but a county employee spoke to the supervisors before the meeting that she was concerned the county would lose all control over future situation by adding this amendment. After the discussion the supervisors deemed this untrue because building permits would still be required to get the approval of county officials.
As previously reported by KHBT, this process began when Mid-American Energy purchased a parcel of land near Beaver Township in order to put in a switching station. After a long process and discussion with legal counsel, Zoning Board Administrator Randy Krecklow approached the board of supervisors about an amendment to the ordinance to smooth out the process for similar future requests.
Following the public hearing it was motioned and approved to hold the first official reading of the amendment. With no outstanding public concern brought forth regarding the amendment the supervisors also motioned to waive the second and third readings and pass the amendment.