Bourbon County commissioners appoint nine‑member zoning advisory committee, set first meeting for April 17

The Bourbon County Commission voted to appoint nine residents to a newly formed Zoning Advisory Committee and approved proposed bylaws that set the group’s initial meeting schedule and scope.

The commission’s motion named nine members drawn from letters of interest. The commissioners said the advisory committee will assist the board in developing a zoning resolution that “defines the types of compatible land uses, maintains community character and creates future growth and development,” language taken from the proposed bylaws. The bylaws cite Kansas statutes governing county zoning, including K.S.A. chapter 12 references covered during the bylaws readout.

Under the adopted schedule, the advisory committee will meet once a week for five weeks; the first meeting was set for Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 5 p.m. in the commission room at the Bourbon County Courthouse. The bylaws describe committee composition as a commissioner plus a representative from each of five commission districts, and included optional wording allowing a committee size up to seven; commissioners subsequently approved appointing nine members after reviewing letters of interest.

Names read into the record during the meeting included Brian Wade; Christine Farbo; Bridal Ashworth II; James L. Vanwert Jr.; Mary Pemberton; Jason Yount; Amanda Spicer; Pete Ownsby; and Mike Houston (spellings and suffixes as read at the meeting). Commissioners said they received many letters of interest — one commissioner reported up to 14 submissions — and adjusted the bylaws to allow the nine appointments made that night.

The bylaws state the advisory committee will present its recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners as an agenda item on May 19, 2025, and that dissolution of the advisory committee will commence at the conclusion of that presentation unless the board directs otherwise.

Why it matters: The advisory committee is charged with drafting recommendations for a county zoning resolution and will shape how Bourbon County defines commercial, industrial and residential land‑use compatibility. The bylaws reference specific Kansas statutory provisions for county zoning (chapter 12) that will inform the committee’s work.

What’s next: The newly appointed committee will hold its first meeting on April 17. The committee is to select a chairperson and secretary, adopt final bylaws as needed and prepare recommendations for the commission’s May 19 meeting.