Keweenaw County Board sets one-year timeline for ending county zoning
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EAGLE RIVER -- The Keweenaw County Board of Commissioners voted Wednesday to adopt a strict one-year timeline to phase out countywide zoning, establishing a definitive “dead stop” for county-funded zoning. The vote was four in favor, with Commissioner Mike LaMotte abstaining.
Board Vice Chair Del Rajala questioned the county's ability to fund zoning for another year.
"I have one question as to when the suggestions start time would be once everything is accomplished. Knowing very well the funding timelines that we're up against," Rajala said. "What are we going to do about that?"
Board Chairman Don Piche replied that it is a long process to enact zoning and a long process to terminate it.
"It’s going to take time," Piche said. "I mean, you’re going to have public hearing and a couple of other hearings."
Piche said he initially suggested a six-month transition period, but during discussions with the county attorney, he was advised six months is not a realistic timeframe.
Keweenaw County Zoning Administrator Susan Hockings addressed the board, saying that she has already delivered specialized packets to all five township supervisors. The packets include transition schedules, sample ordinances, and joint-agreement frameworks in the event multiple townships choose to collaborate on regional boards.
"Each supervisor got a packet tailored to their townships," Hockings said, "and it will take at least a year to go through the whole process," adding that the clock will not start ticking until the board of commissioners makes the decision to keep or terminate countywide zoning.
Rajala commented that the one-year timeline caught him off-guard, knowing the county budget and what the board is up against. He addressed Keweenaw County Treasurer Eric Hermanson:
"Continuing this spread for an additional year - if it were so to be agreed in the language - can we survive that for a year and still keep everything status quo as it is today, with everyone employed?"
Hermanson said yes, it is possible in the short-term, due to capital from one-time revenue sources, explaining that the county's revenue will exceed expenses in the upcoming year due to payments from land transactions between The Nature Conservancy and the Department of Natural Resources.
"That's not the greatest direction," Hermanson said. "We'll be spending capital funds for operating expenses, but it is doable in the short-term."
Piche repeated that the process is going to take time and there is nothing the board of commissioners can do about it.
"I understand, but we still have a choice to still fund the position, whether or not it’s approved or not," Rajala said, "and our verbiage here, 'six months or a year,' is what’s going to be followed. I want to make sure we understand we’re going with that year if we decide to do this, the language verbiage is in there, but that one year is a dead stop."
Piche said moving forward, the county board will want to ensure the townships have adequate time to respond to the end of county-funded zoning.
"Well, we want to do this right," Piche said. "We just can’t say to the townships 'You're done.'"
Rajala agreed, but indicated the county would not continue funding zoning indefinitely.
"We’re not going to kick this down and keep dragging it and dragging it and moving the goal post," he said. "We've already given them (townships) our intent. We've already given the indication we want to start it. Here's the starting, and we're establishing the rules as how this is going to play out," adding that is his official opinion.
Commissioner Mike LaMotte asked why the county board is not looking at funding alternatives.
"Why are we not turning around and taking a look at ourselves and asking why, why did these, why are these issues happening?" LaMotte asked. "Let’s fix it. Let’s not do things to get us in legal trouble, you know? We can fix it. It’s fixable."
Rajala said the board has already stated the county can no longer afford zoning while retaining a deputy on the county payroll.
"We've already said we can't fund it," he said, "and we can talk about it for a whole year."
Piche said that once the county makes an official decision regarding timelines, it will help the townships moving forward.
"I think now that the townships know what we’re doing, I think they’ll start moving on this," Piche said. "They should be able to organize within a year."
Following the roll-call debate, the board voted to approve the zoning amendment application as recommended by county legal counsel.