The Morristown Zoning Board meeting was called to order on Thursday,  
February 25, 2009 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, Mark Rahrick City Attorney, Larry Hagre. 
  

Motion was made by Schwichtenberg, seconded by O’Rourke and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of the January 21, 2010 as printed. 

Report on City Council Action Taken at Last Meeting:  
Bus seems to be taken care of, appears that it is no longer a living quarter. 

Requests to be Heard: None  

Public Hearings: None 

Unfinished Business:  
Larry Hagre addressed the Zoning board on his Carport. Hagre wants to know what the definition of a carport or temporary structure is and why they are not allowed in town. He had a petition from all of his neighbors stating that they had no problem with it being in his yard, to cover his RV. He would like to keep it year round. Byers stated that a temporary structure does not have footings under it. Rahrick said that what he has seen in other cities is that it doesn’t meet building codes. Inspectors go over what is considered safety issues and you can’t alter state building codes. 
Morris stated that we need to be fair across the board. We cannot let one person have a temporary structure and not another. 
There was talk about temporary restriction and maintenance.  
Motion by O’Rourke seconded by Blackmer and motion carries to table it until a later date for further discussion. 

New Business: 

Culhane’s questioned there address. It is 401 Fountain Street. Kuball will notify them of the address. 

Ordinances were looked at the Zoning board would like to see administrative fines put in place, so that if people are doing things without getting a permit then the city can fine them for not getting the permit before beginning construction.  

Rahrick stated the city needs to adopt the state building code, which will help with a lot of the issues that the city is seeing. 

If a property owner in town is required to hard service city property (easement) while installing a required drive or is the city to finish the easement. Rahrick stated that it is the property owner’s responsibility to pave to the road. 

Inoperable vehicles Rahrick stated that a letter can be sent out that the police will need to set up a time and see if the vehicles are operable or not. 

The use of solar collectors was discussed, whether or not the city allows these. 
Land definitions with meets and bounds, needs to be redefined. 
Tailor park violations were discussed. 
No dividing property without subdivisions.  
Splits with meets and bounds description cannot be done without plating it out first. 

Question over why or if some of the ordinances are redundant 
Lot size is not defined, does the Zoning board want to impose limits. 

Homeowner inspections were discussed along with trespass order and whether or not it was legal to do. 

Board is going to have a special meeting to look closely at what ordinances the city has and then present them to the attorney and have him do the legal wording on the ordinances.  

Motion by Morris seconded by Blackmer and carried unanimously to have a special Zoning Board meeting concerning ordinances changes on March 11, 2010 at 7 pm. 
  

Zoning Administrator’s report:  

Closing permits on Nick Martin and Mike O’Rourke.  

Motioned by O’Rourke, seconded by Morris and carried unanimously to adjourn at 10:35 p.m. 
 
 
 
  

Becky Kuball 
City Clerk