Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
AKRON - The Akron Plan Commission held it's first meeting in three months to propose a budget for 1999.
The commission came under fire in a recent hearing for having no budget in 1998, as required by state law.
Bob Allen, commission chairman, submitted a budget to the rest of the commission members and suggested that it would become a part of the town budget. Allen was unclear whether the state statute required the process.
Allen added that the commission needs to establish an office and to purchase equipment and supplies. He recommended that the group purchase a 200-page minute book for $200.
Member Roger Gearhart said that $200 for a minute book is a good investment, because it would be used for future zoning needs. He said the group needs to budget for legal fees. This would include the cost of having an attorney help write zoning ordinances
Allen said that "this group, the plan commission, only reviews the ordinances, we don't write them." He added that he thought the town has the legal access to write the ordinances.
Gearhart said he is going by what the county is doing and they had included it in their budget.
Allen said the costs were minuscule up until the point of the court action. He said the town attorney attended a couple of meetings and advised the commission. "Those have been charged to the town, against the legal conflict, because it's a part of the town's order of operation. However, if we want our own, how many hours do you think? It's $80 to $100 dollars an hour."
Gearhart suggested they budget approximately $5,000.
Allen asked Gearhart what that amount would do to the town budget. Gearhart told Allen that either the commission wanted it or they didn't.
Member Jean Conner suggested that the group obtain an account book to keep track of the expenditures.
Allen suggested that deputy clerk Jill Runkle could keep track of the expenses. Gearhart told Allen that Runkle was not a part of the plan commission. Allen explained that it would be set up as an account with the town.
Member Donna Loer asked Allen if the statute allowed such an arrangement. Allen said the statute doesn't say anything about it.
It was announced that the budget needed to be in to the town clerk by Monday. Gearhart also made a motion that Allen present the budget to the town council at the next council meeting.
