Published: October 06, 2009 10:20 pm      

Galveston ponders whether to join plan commission

Council members say local contractors don’t support the move

Galveston residents are still waiting to learn whether the town council will consider merging with the Logansport/Cass County Plan Commission.

In August, representatives of the Logansport/Cass County Plan Commission met with the Galveston Plan Commission to outline services the county agency could provide to the town.

For most of the year, a concerned citizens group has been calling on the town council to enforce zoning ordinances on unsafe buildings and unsightly properties. The effort has led to more than 400 residents signing a petition asking members of the town council to resign.

Councilman John Hart said Monday that the plan commission had no recommendation to make because it was unsure of the costs the county would charge and the services provided.

“We haven’t had the opportunity to meet with Stan Williams,” Hart said of the director of the Logansport/Cass County Plan Commission.

Hart said it was difficult to find a time that three Galveston Plan Commission members could travel to Logansport to meet with Williams.

Local business owner Bruce Moss said that is part of the problem. He said the county agency is paid to provide services while Galveston relies on volunteers.

Hart said the local contractors doing business in Galveston want nothing to do with the Logansport/Cass County Plan Commission.

“You have to make three or four trips to Logansport to get anything done,” he said.

Moss said the town had to determine whether the county plan commission would perform tasks that Galveston didn’t want to do.

“We don’t have a problem right now,” Hart said. “We don’t have inspection services.”

Moss said it was important to meet with Williams to determine the differing costs for a variety of services provided.

One resident noted Galveston already pays a portion of the Logansport/Cass County Plan Commission operating expenses through county property taxes and it might be worth paying a little more to get help in obtaining grants.

Williams said Tuesday there had been a second meeting with Galveston Plan Commission and a third meeting has been discussed but not finalized.

“The third meeting will be with the executive committee,” Williams said. “The three representatives from Galveston will indicate what services they expect and the cost.”

Williams said the executive board would determine the fee, which would depend on which of three options it selects for possible participation.

Hart said the Galveston Plan Commission had not yet made a decision. Council members indicated they had been getting a lot of negative comments from residents about joining the county agency.

Services the Logansport/Cass County Plan Commission could provide to Galveston include reviewing land use, overseeing zoning cases, enforcing building codes, long-range planning and obtaining grants.

• Ken de la Bastide is the Kokomo Tribune enterprise editor. He can be reached at (765) 454-8580 or via e-mail at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com