Thursday, October 07, 2010
 
sponsored by

Regional planning commission finds candidate to fill multi-hat position

Send a link to a friend

[October 07, 2010]  Last month the Logan County Board authorized the county's regional planning commission to see if they could find a person who could perform planning and zoning, enterprise zone administration, and regional planning commission duties, as well as serve as the county's GIS coordinator.

A tall order, but when the commission met last evening, chairman Bill Martin had a recommendation: "I think we've found that someone in Mr. Will D'Andrea."

Lacking a quorum, with only six members present, an official vote could not be taken. However, Martin asked members who were present to express their opinion of approval.

Derrick Crane offered: "I think Will would do a great job. Every time I have been privileged enough to work with him, he's done a great job."

All other comments were favorable also, and there was no opposition.

Martin agreed, saying he'd done a pretty good job so far, and someone else kidded that he was still on probation. The humor in that is that D'Andrea has actually been a part-time employee of the county for the past three years and received many favorable comments for his work as zoning officer.

D'Andrea came to the area to work on a master's degree at Lincoln Christian University, which he completed this spring.

Current GIS chairman Bret Aukamp, who would be handing over the GIS duties to D'Andrea, pointed out: "He would be wearing a whole lot of different hats." Aukamp clarified that the GIS startup has been under the planning commission, but that GIS is really meant to be, and would become, more of a county responsibility.

D'Andrea would continue as zoning officer as well.

Given the range of duties, D'Andrea would be an employee of both the planning commission and the county. The county board would approve hiring him at their adjourned session.

One other point of interest was discussed for the evening. Aukamp recalled that the Logan County Economic Development Master Plan prepared for the development partnership was released last week.

Martin said the planning commission members should review and discuss this document.

"Read it, and see what you really think about it," he said, adding that if anyone had questions, call the director, Joel Smiley.

[to top of second column]

It may be that there would be room for input from the commission as the plan is worked on in the future.

Martin said that in the front portion, the plan has a lot of information and statistics, "some interesting." With enthusiasm he concluded, "The last part is where it gets really, really good."

Present were commissioners Martin, Crane, Lincoln Mayor Keith Snyder, Gerald Lolling, David Hepler and Mount Pulaski Mayor Jim Fuhrer.

Also participating in discussions were future board member Gene Rohlfs, D'Andrea and Aukamp.

Commission members who were absent were Fred Finchum, Bill Graff, Dean Sasse, Dave Evans and Carol Gustafson.

Four past members of the commission have not been replaced: Jean Ann Hutchinson, Judi Graff, Bill Glaze and Nathan Turner.

[By JAN YOUNGQUIST]

Related links

Past related articles

< Top Stories index

Back to top


 

News | Sports | Business | Rural Review | Teaching and Learning | Home and Family | Tourism | Obituaries

Community | Perspectives | Law and Courts | Leisure Time | Spiritual Life | Health and Fitness | Teen Scene
Calendar | Letters to the Editor