County board to establish a municipal civil infraction ordinance

Presque Isle County building official James Zakshesky provided members of the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners with an update on the progress that has been made in updating the county?s zoning ordinance for the first time in 19 years. At the November 8 county board meeting, Zakshesky said the planning commission conducted a special meeting earlier in the week (November 6) and tentatively approved the new zoning ordinance. The planning commission met in special session to consider rezoning small parcels property in Ocqueoc and Bearinger townships currently zoned forest recreation to R-1 low-density residential district, a change that was approved on a 6-3 vote. One of the remaining issues is the establishment of a municipal civil infraction ordinance. County prosecutor Rick Steiger recommended the county board approve a free-standing civil infraction ordinance, instead of an ordinance that needs to be inserted in the zoning ordinance. Since the yet-to-be established ordinance would be separate from the proposed new zoning ordinance, the county board can choose to have it apply to other county ordinances. Emmett County has adopted a similar procedure and ordinance.

STEIGER, WHO has received a draft ordinance from Wade Trim planner Fran Brink, said the civil infraction ordinance would decriminalize zoning infractions, although they could become a misdemeanor if fines go unpaid. Zoning infractions are currently considered misdemeanors. Brink said the board wanted to decriminalize zoning infractions at the beginning of the more than year-long project to update the zoning ordinance. The municipal civil infraction ordinance will be put before the board for formal approval at a future meeting. The next meeting of the county planning commission is not until the third Thursday of January, although Zakshesky said the chair could conduct a special meeting to recommend the new zoning ordinance to the county board for review and possible approval.

IN OTHER board news: ? In response to a request made by the board, the Presque Isle County Tourism Council has submitted more than $10,000 in rental fee revenue from the Ocqueoc Outdoor Center. There is still another unresolved issue, according to chair Allan Bruder. He would like an accounting of how the center was utilized in 2006. A motion was approved by the commission at the October 11 meeting to send a letter to the Tourism Council requesting money collected from rent be turned into the county treasurer?s office. The Tourism Council, which has been given the authority to operate the county park

for the county, had failed to turn in any of the rental fees this year, according to county officials. Bruder has written another letter requesting an accounting of how many times the center was rented and how much was paid for it each time. District 5 commissioner Stephen Lang said the board would be ?negligent? if they did not follow up on the situation.

? The board approved a $15 per month increase in the Municipal Employees? Retirement System Benefit-E payments for employees who retire by December 31, 2005. Some board members believe it will be fairer to go with a dollar amount over a percentage increase.

The increase will take effect at the beginning of the new year. ? Bruder was authorized to sign a resolution declaring November Homeless Awareness Month.

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