Debate continues over making planning commission members contact information public

BEATRICE – It appears Gage County officials are leaning toward establishing an official county e-mail address to enable people to get in contact with or send information to county planning and zoning commission members.

Recently, an issue was raised about direct contact with commission members. At issue has been whether phone numbers or e-mails of commission members should be made public on the county’s website.

Currently, that body is reviewing proposed regulations that would govern the use of solar energy…both smaller residential and larger commercial applications.
Planning and Zoning Administrator Lisa Wiegand told county board members this week she’s not aware of any problem commission members have had getting public input or information. Wiegand said she forwards questions or requests to commission members.

"Giving those commission members the option to give those individuals a call back when their schedule permits and then to be able to allow them to exchange that phone number. E-mail, honestly is probably the best. I will share with you that our commission members do prefer to have printed documentation because they file that. A lot of them don't have the printing capabilities on their own. We'll put it in members packets and it will get sent out to them....or they'll stop by. Generally it happens prior to a hearing."

The commission is a volunteer, non-paid group that initially handles land-use and zoning matters, before the body’s recommendations are then forwarded to the county board of supervisors. That paid, elected group then has the final decision-making authority.

Wiegand said typically if a citizen wants to contact an individual commission member, she’ll contact that member and other commission members. Citizens also have the option of dropping off material to be distributed to commission members. "I do have members who don't want their personal e-mails given out...so, having a county e-mail does make more sense."

Two county supervisors weighed in on whether planning commission members contact information should be public….board members Eddie Dorn and Don Schuller.  (Dorn)..."As far as I'm concerned, on a volunteer board, if they don't want it public, I don't think they should be public." (Schuller) "Those people volunteer to be on a board...they should be willing to share their phone number, contact information...otherwise, my opinion, they're not the best selection."

The county planning commission’s next meeting is January 17th. Recently, the commission conducted a public hearing on proposed solar energy regulations but delayed forwarding its’ draft regulations to the Gage County Board…allowing time to review changes suggested by the public during that hearing.  Gage County has a moratorium on commercial solar permit applications, until regulations can be finalized.

Many local government webpages do not include phone numbers or e-mails of members who serve on volunteer advisory committees or boards….but rather provide a contact number or e-mail for questions or information.