Year in review, #2: County Commissioners Face Issues

Written by Chase Jordan

Wednesday, 31 December 2008 08:00

Linn County Commissioners had their hands full with several issues in 2008.

Elected officials dealt with infrastructure, building repairs, a controversial proposed airstrip and a shooting range.

On May 15, the Runway Advisory Committee, a seven-person group appointed by the Pleasanton City Council and the county commission, applied for a permit for an airstrip near Pleasanton. According to an application with the Kansas Airport Improvement program, the proposal includes areas where the airstrip could be lengthened to as long as 5,000 feet in future expansions. Initial plans are for a 3,000-foot-long airstrip, which would replace the deteriorating Gilmore Airport runway that has been in service for 30 years.

Linn County residents expressed both concern and support for the project. Concerns included pollution, noise, financial issues and drug trafficking. The possibility of allowing taxpayers to vote for the proposed airstrip was mentioned during a commission meeting Monday.

The Linn County Planning and Zoning Board approved the conditional-use permit for the airstrip by a vote of 6-2 in November.

In addition to the major airstrip issue, commissioners were also faced with a shooting range conditional-use permit that was denied by the Linn County Planning and Zoning Board. On Nov. 3, Linn County Planning and Zoning Administrator Larry Robinson presented information about a CUP for a shooting range on County Road 500 and Reed Road, between Mound City and Prescott. The application was denied in a 6-2 vote by the Linn County Planning Commission during an October meeting, because it does not fit the character of the neighborhood. Other reasons for the denial included health, safety, welfare and property value concerns. County commissioners made recommendations and sent information back to the Planning and Zoning Board. The permit was approved in December under several conditions.

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