PIERCETON – The Pierceton Town Council decided to continue a decision on the rezoning of land in town from residential to commercial.
The property is owned by Busz Enterprises, and its owner, Max Busz, appeared before the town council to ask the land on the east side of Oak Street, 100 feet north of Columbia Street, be rezoned.
Busz explained that when he bought the property on auction he was unaware of a convenance through Kosciusko County’s planning department that required the storage shed on the property be attached to a residence.
Busz explained he was using the shed for the storage of tires and some tools.
He went on to explain to the council that since he was going through the trouble of trying to get the property compliant, he may just want to make it commercial.
Busz said that at some point in the future, his 19-year-old son may want to open an auto repair shop and tire sales business at the location in the future.
By continuing the decision, the council allows for Busz to go before the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals to ask for a variance that would allow him to continue storing tires in the building without rezoning it.
It was noted that neighbors of the property were given a chance to respond if they disagreed with the rezoning and none did.
Town council member Ronald Hall said his concern wasn’t with what Busz would do with the property but what may be done with it in the future.
Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission Director Dan Richard was at Monday night’s meeting to explain the situation.
Richard said that by allowing the property to be commercial, it opened it to any number of businesses coming there in the future.
And if zoned commercial, the owner of the property wouldn’t have to appear before a plan commission or the town council.
Kim Rose, who plans Pierceton Days, asked for and received cooperation on closing roads for a car show for the festival.
A free farmers and flea market will be held at Brower Park June 5 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
It’s the brainchild of the town’s new park board.
Park board members Cindy Kreger and Rose said they hope to make it a monthly, if not weekly, event.
The June 5 market is free for vendors. After that the booth cost will be $5.
The council heard a complaint from a neighbor of the town’s skate park.
The neighbor said people continue to hang out there after dark, with their car lights on and loud music playing.
Councilman Jim Bumbaugh, who is also a town police officer, said his department will do a better job of locking the park up at night.
The Pierceton Fire Department is looking for an air compressor that costs $7,000. Matt Brubaker, Pierceton fire chief, said the township would pay for half off it.
Town Council President Mandy Espinoza asked Brubaker to give the council one more week to get back to him.
Brubaker said the quotes on the air compressor expire in about 30 days.
Brubaker also said that per ISO regulation, his department will have to test pumps every year for $300.
Pierceton Town Marshal Tim Sammons told the council that the DARE graduation will be May 24 at 5 p.m. at the Pierceton Elementary gym.
Sammons is attending the 2012 National DARE training conference from July 24-26 in Atlanta, Ga.
A grant pays for Sammons to attend the conference.
Sammons also told the council that he is taking his personal vehicle since his squad car has more than 130,000 miles on it.
Follow staff writer Daniel Riordan on Twitter at @TUNews_Riordan
