Commission Approves Final Plat
The Jasper County Commissioners Monday approved the final plat for the Peninsula at Jackson Lake by a 5-0 vote, upholding the Planning & Zoning Board’s recommendation.
The new development off Jackson Lake Road was required to make a couple of changes after the P&Z hearing, as two lots did not meet the road frontage requirements, and those changes were made before it was brought to the Board of Commissioners.
Only the developer spoke in favor of the final plat at the public hearing Monday, and Mary Patrick was the only person speaking against it, and she really was just asking questions. She questioned whether Public Works Director Preston Campbell had looked at the culverts, after the developer said that Mr. Campbell had approved the roads. The roads will be private roads, with the developer, then the Homeowners Association (HOA) taking care of them. There was a stipulation that if the county ever does take over the roads, they would have to be up to county standards.
Ms. Patrick questioned if the developer would have to re-pave Eagle Drive, which she said the development ordinance allows for, since Eagle Drive has been “used and abused by the developer.”
The commissioners listened to Ms. Patrick, but did not incorporate her suggestions into their approval. After the public hearing, commissioners discussed items of interest, and Bruce Henry reminded everyone of opening day festivities and barbecue at the recreation department this Saturday.
Commissioner Doug Luke brought up a couple of issues, and was to get back with the county manager.
Commissioners each received a budget workbook to begin work on the budget. The initial budget requests total nearly $1.5 million more than last year’s. Departments that went up the most generally have capital improvements in their requests, so staff will go back through the budgets, and break out capital improvement items, mandated items, and salary increases. Some department heads/constitutional officers put pay increases in their budget requests, and others did not.
