Fiscal Officer Julie Joyce-Smith estimated if they hired a full-time staffer it would cost around $116,000 for salary and benefits for a zoning administrator, legal fees and other costs. She said it might have cost about $68,500 for a part-time person.
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Trustee Ellen Yordy told the Journal-News she wasn’t surprised voters denied the measure.
“I kind of figured as much, we’re just not in a position right now to go forward zoning,” Yordy said. “Maybe in a couple years I’d like to see it go in. But we’re just like everybody else we don’t have the money.”
In 2020 after 339 residents submitted a petition for the township to take control of its own zoning, the trustees appointed a zoning commission and with the help of a consultant that panel updated the land use plan and drafted the zoning resolution and map.
In response to a petition by residents the trustees placed a question on the ballot asking voters if they want the township to take over zoning from the county. Fiscal Officer Julie Joyce-Smith told the Journal-News if the measure is approved they have only a few weeks to have a zoning department in place.
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