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Residents press county on road conditions, livestreaming law and a driveway permit dispute
Summary
During public comment at the Sept. 2 Elkhart County meeting, residents raised concerns about road maintenance, called for a county ordinance to require livestreaming of appointed boards, and described a driveway permit dispute requiring a zoning variance.
Several residents used the public-comment period at the Sept. 2 Elkhart County Board of Commissioners meeting to raise separate, substantive issues: road conditions on county routes, the impact of a new law requiring livestreaming for certain public boards, and an individual driveway permit dispute.
"I don't know why we can't have decent roads for the amount of tax dollars that we should spend on roads," Glenn Hall said during privilege of the floor, citing deteriorated surfaces on County Road 20 and 23 near Jefferson Place. Hall pressed the county for better maintenance.
Cindy Hajicek of Goshen urged the county to close a transparency loophole created by a July 1 law that requires certain public boards to livestream, record and archive meetings for 90 days. "Elected boards became more transparent, but unelected boards could now avoid transparency simply by holding meetings at a location other than those of the elected boards," Hajicek said. She proposed that Elkhart County "adopt one standard for every county level governing board meeting" so that all county-level boards hold meetings in county facilities and thereby be subject to the livestreaming and archiving requirement.
John Blandford of Ray Lane described a dispute over a driveway permit and plan submitted by a contractor, saying the submitted plan had an incorrect driveway layout and that the county allows only one driveway entrance per parcel. Blandford said the contractor told him it would cover related fees but that he would need a variance to proceed with the originally intended driveway layout. County staff in the meeting advised Blandford that he would likely need to seek a variance and that highway staff would help clarify the permitting steps.
These remarks came during public comment and privilege of the floor and did not result in formal board action during the meeting. County staff on hand indicated follow-up would occur: highway staff will work with Blandford on the permitting process and commissioners noted ongoing highway maintenance responsibilities.
Speakers quoted: Glenn Hall; Cindy Hajicek, Goshen resident; John Blandford, Ray Lane resident.
