Enon council appoints Elmer Beard as BZA president, reassigns two members and two alternates

The Village of Enon council voted Feb. 8 to appoint Elmer Beard as president of the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), move Jeremy Leist and John Downs into regular member positions, and name Kathleen Baber and John Young as alternates for terms running from February 2022 through Jan. 31, 2024. The motion was firsted by Jeremy Whitacre and seconded by Ben Beair, and the council approved it by roll-call vote.

Why it matters: The BZA reviews and decides local zoning appeals and variance requests. The change in leadership and membership affects who will hear and rule on zoning matters for the village through the stated term, and it preserves the current composition of the Planning Commission for the rest of the year as the council directed.

Details of the vote and motion: During the meeting the mayor thanked outgoing BZA president Bud Baker for his years of service and proposed the slate of changes. Jeremy Whitacre stated his agreement with the mayor’s recommendation; Rick Hanna recommended Kathleen Baber and John Young for the alternate positions. The council moved to make Elmer Beard president, to elevate Jeremy Leist and John Downs to regular membership, and to appoint Kathleen Baber and John Young as alternates, with the term running to Jan. 31, 2024. The roll-call vote recorded all present council members voting yes; the motion passed. Following the vote, the mayor and council congratulated Elmer Beard and Kathleen Baber.

What the council did not decide: The council left the Planning Commission at status quo for the remainder of the year; no personnel changes to that body were made at this meeting.

Next steps: The appointments take effect as recorded and will stand through the stated term; the council did not attach additional conditions or amendments to the motion at the meeting.