Court approves advertising for public hearing on proposed salvage‑yard site on Thomason Road

County staff brought forward a request to advertise a public hearing on a proposed relocation of a permitted auto salvage operation to a roughly 20‑acre property on Thomason Road in District 4. Staff said the site has some houses on nearby roads but that the deeper portions of the parcel would not be visible from Thomason Road.

Nathan (county staff) said the applicant, Mr. Armstrong of the existing permitted salvage yard, wanted to know whether the court would object to him bidding on the property at a June auction. Staff recommended advertising a public hearing under the county’s junkyard/auto salvage ordinance so nearby residents would have an opportunity to comment. The court also noted the timing did not allow a hearing before the June auction and discussed whether to permit Mr. Armstrong to bid while the hearing process runs on the normal advertising schedule.

Commissioners said they would rely on public comment to guide any final decision. The court voted to approve advertising a public hearing for the second court in June (recorded as the June 24 court date in the meeting) and made approval contingent on the applicant agreeing to pay the advertising fee. The motion passed on a roll call with yes votes from the members present. Staff and commissioners stressed that any final decision on a permit would follow the public hearing and the ordinance’s procedures.

No final permit or zoning change was approved at the meeting; the action authorized only advertisement of a hearing and set the hearing for the court’s June meeting.