Area planning panel discusses hiring, sound problems and near-term fee schedule changes

At the start of new business, staff introduced a new permitting and inspector technician, Ethan, who will cross-train with Cat to provide backup for meeting technology and permitting functions.

Staff then described recurring sound problems during broadcasts and asked members to check microphone indicators and sit closer to podium mics after complaints from viewers. Staff said the issue had prompted complaints that online viewers heard only portions of meetings.

The longest discussion covered an urgent proposal to update the county’s building and planning fee schedule. Staff explained new state rules that require revenue from building and planning fees to go into a non-reverting fund used only for office-related expenses and restrict fee adjustments to once every five years unless special criteria are met. Staff said any fee change after July 1 would start the five-year clock, which creates urgency to align fees now with actual staff costs.

Staff reported work with the city of Frankfurt to align fee schedules, and said the department is preparing a draft to circulate. The board generally supported reviewing a draft and indicated preferences about meeting times; staff said they will circulate options for a special meeting with at least two days’ notice for a discussion (not a public hearing). Staff also announced that board member Walt Minnick had submitted a formal resignation and the town advisory must select a replacement to maintain quorums. The board confirmed the next regular meeting will be July 7, 2026.

The fee-schedule matter requires additional review and a future public process for any formal adoption.