Public Hearings Are Scheduled

The Jasper County Planning & Zoning Commission has scheduled five public hearings for today, Oct. 28, beginning at 7 p.m., according to a legal advertisement on page 18 of today’s newspaper.

In addition, the Board of Commissioners are scheduled to have hearings on the same five items on November 15.

However, according to the Planning & Zoning ordinance, available on the website, all public hearings must be advertised at least 15 days but not more than 45 days prior to the date of the public hearing.

The public hearing on an application by David Williams for preliminary plat approval and the public hearing on the special events ordinance were originally advertised October 14, which is still not 15 days prior to October 28.

The special event ordinance was brought before the county commission at its regular meeting held October 7, and the commissioners asked if planning and zoning had looked at it. They were told no. So, they sent it to planning and zoning for a recommendation.

The Taxpayer’s Watchdog Group (TWG) alerted people on their mailing list to the proposed special event ordinance, raising concerns. There is a letter in today’s paper concerning the ordinance. The ordinance, as proposed, spans nine typewritten pages, and cannot be re-printed here because of space considerations.

However, it proposes monitoring all get-togethers of 20 or more people. There are exceptions, but basically each event requires a $100 fee and application with no assurance that it will be approved.