Do-over needed for ‘snowy’ meeting

I take issue with Lee County Zoning Board of Appeal’s inability to make a decision in favor of public safety when it held its Jan. 20 meeting during a winter storm.

State law governs the Zoning Board of Appeals and states all meetings of the board of appeals shall be held at the call of the chairman. Where was Chairman Ron Conderman? Why was the decision to go forward with a public meeting after the Lee County Emergency Management Agency director issued a severe storm warning? This warning advised Lee County residents “to travel only in an emergency.”

Why did zoning board members assign that decision to Zoning Administrator Chris Henkel? Where did they get the authority to rewrite state law? I called several board members and zoning board members; all stated they would contact Henkel. One board member even sent Henkel the emergency weather notice.

Another resident contacted State’s Attorney Henry Dixon to step in. Mr. Dixon implied the resident was being overly dramatic, and 4 to 6 inches of snow should be no problem.

Should we accept this type of willful disregard for the physical safety of citizens?

In the future, all public meetings should be presumed canceled when the Lee County Emergency Management Agency issues a winter storm warning. A simple statement of policy included on the annual schedule of meetings and each meeting notice would eliminate guesswork, unnecessary calls and treacherous driving.

Many residents were excluded from this important zoning meeting by a reckless decision to hold a meeting during a winter storm. County board members are your public servants; let them know how you feel. Their names and numbers are listed at www.countyoflee.org or call 815-288-5676.

Contact Chairman Jim Seeburg at 815-453-2571 to request the meeting be repeated. Our public officials need to consider the safety of citizens more important than any business they conduct.

Note to readers – Roseann Para is the Willow Creek Township Planning Commission chairwoman and a Lee County Board candidate.