The Morristown Zoning Board meeting was called to order on Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 7:04 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 402 Division Street South by Chairman, Jim Lonergan.   

Present:  Zoning Board Members, Jack Schwichtenberg, Jack Blackmer Mike O’Rourke, Jim Lonergan, Mark Morris, John Byers Also present was Becky Kuball, City Clerk
 

Unfinished Business: 
O’Rourke talked with rice county building inspector Kevin Murphy, about hiring a building inspector. Murphy is willing to come to the next Zoning meeting and discuss this with the board. Murphy would be interested in the position. He would explain the 94 fee schedule and requirements.
It was decided to invite Murphy to the next Zoning meeting on March 18, 2010.
Board discussed adopting the state building code for the city. Lots of questions about what it entails to adopt the code. The board is concerned with the cost of permits once the State Building Code is adopted.

Kuball will email attorney and see how we write an administrative fine ordinance. What would be the cost of failure to get a permit before construction, what are the costs of not following zoning ordinances?

Discussion about the cost of a zoning permit fine, board is looking at the fine is $100 or the cost of the permit whichever is greater.

Legal definition of siding and roofing what is acceptable and access driveways were discussed 152.216

Violation of Administrative fine
Any zoning code ordinance violation other than zoning permit violation the fine will be $100. All unpaid administrative fines will be assessed to taxes if not paid within 30 days. 14 days to become compliant with violation, the zoning board at their discretion has the right to extend the date on compliance as they deem fit.
City easements need to clean up driveways and access driveways Make them uniform by definition on what a driveway is.152.216 and 152.205.

Motion by Blackmer seconded by O’Rourke and carried unanimously to recommend to the city council to reword ordinance 91.04 to state that no farm animals are allowed in the city limits in any zoning district.

Motion by Blackmer seconded by Schwichtenberg and carried unanimously to charge a zoning permit fine and bring to the council to approve to read:
Zoning permit fine is a $100 or the cost of the permit whichever is greater. And any zoning code ordinance violation other than zoning permit violation the fine will be $100. All unpaid administrative fines will be assessed to taxes if not paid within 30 days. Owner has 14 days to become compliant with violation, the zoning board at their discretion has the right to extend the date on compliance as they deem fit.

Principle building is a house. Question was brought up about whether or not you can put a storage shed for personal use on a 5 acre parcel within the city limits without having a principle building on it first. It was decided that the ordinance reads it has to have a principle building on it first before anything else can be built.

Motion by O’Rourke and seconded by Schwichtenberg and carried unanimously to adjourn at 9:45 pm.

Becky Kuball
City Clerk