Franklin County Commission approves 5-acre rezone, extends employee agreement; hears jail and grant updates

The Franklin County Commission on July 30 approved a request to rezone 5 acres for a family homestead, voted to extend an employment agreement addendum for county staff member Derek Denton, and approved payroll, while receiving updates on a federal grant application and jail staffing.

The rezone application, filed as 24090021 and described by staff as “commonly known as 4672 John Bridal,” would change 5 acres of a 75-acre tract to the RE district while leaving the remaining 70 acres in agricultural zoning. County staff told the commission the 5-acre parcel is mostly timber, that a rural water meter (Rural Water 6) is already in place to serve the lot, and that the applicant plans to sell the parcel to a family member to allow construction of a homestead. Planning staff and the planning commission recommended approval. The commission voted in favor of the rezoning; Commissioners Wehmeyer, Meador, Dickinson, Sotomayor and Chair Harris were recorded voting yes during the roll call.

The commission also approved a consent item extending an employment agreement addendum for Derek Denton. Denton…