Once again the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission tabled a decision on a preliminary plat for a subdivision near Lake Wawasee after failing to get the five votes necessary to make a decision.
While board member Charlene Knispel was at Wednesday afternoon's meeting, she was absent from June's meeting. She voted against the proposed residential development on Lake Wawasee. That brought the vote to 4-4, with five votes needed to approve a motion.Kosciusko County Area Plan Director Dan Richard informed the board that Milford is still trying to appoint somebody to the commission and is discussing options with their attorney.
"We don't have the makeup at this point to finish the job," said Richard before the issue was continued to the August meeting.
When someone from Milford is finally named to the commission, their vote, barring a change in vote by a current member, will serve as the deciding vote.
Richard noted however that many of the decisions made by the area plan commission are larger in scope and affect more people than the decision for the proposed 13-lot subdivision.
That was evidenced later in the meeting when, after months of research and discussion, the commission approved an ordinance for wind towers to be built in the county.
A 13-page document detailing the ordinance was reviewed by the board and county assistant plan director Matt Sandy.
Sandy told the board Howard County's wind tower ordinance was reviewed but that it differed very little from the one in Benton County.
Area Plan Commission members visited Benton County earlier this year to see how wind towers were used there.
Sandy also let the commission know that David Beall, airport manager at Warsaw Municipal, reported that in terms of wind towers that may be placed near the airport, a state law mandating flight lines and obstructions would be enforced.
Commission member Bob Conley said the ordinance was "conclusive" and made the motion to approve the ordinance.
The ordinance will go to the county commissioners for final approval.
The commissioners meet July 21 at 9:15 a.m. in the courtroom at the old courthouse.
The commission also approved the minutes from their June meeting; approved a sign for the Melody Acres subdivision, off Old 30, to be moved; and approved the vacation of a section of Shelf Drive on Sechrist Lake.
