Calhoun County board approves second reading of zoning ordinance after public questions

The Calhoun County Board of Supervisors on June 9 approved the second reading of the proposed Calhoun County Zoning Ordinance 2026-01 and adopted all amendments identified in a redline comparison prepared by County Attorney Ben Smith. The motion passed unanimously.

The meeting included public comments from Jim and Sharon Murphy, who raised questions and concerns about the proposed ordinance during the public-comment period. A separate short period of public questioning followed the second reading, when several people present recommended substantive changes to the draft before the board voted.

County Attorney Ben Smith provided the Redline Comparison of Adopted Amendments to the board and explained that the action taken on June 9 replaces previously approved amendments because of a miscommunication between the County Attorney’s office and the County Auditor about what was approved at the May 26 meeting. The board approved the set of amendments as provided in that redline document and incorporated it into the official record. The redline document is available for public review in the Auditor’s office and on the Calhoun County website.

The ordinance passed its second reading by unanimous voice vote. No exact timetable for final adoption (if a separate third reading or effective date is required) was recorded in the minutes; the board’s action on June 9 reflects adoption of the second-reading amendments and the updated redline package.

The approvals and the public comments were part of a broader agenda that also included personnel actions, engineering permits and other routine business. The county posted the redline comparison and related meeting materials on its website for those seeking details of the amendments.