Planners Face Court Appeal
By Randall L. Dickson
Extension Educator 4-H
Youth Development
To be successful, many youth-serving organizations rely on volunteer support.
In that respect, the 4-H program is no different. 4-H volunteers in Marshall County spend thousands upon thousands of hours assisting the more than 800 members the county 4-H program serves. This yea�s honors banquet was at the Pretty Lake Trinity United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. The meal was prepared by the Mary and Martha Circle.
During his welcoming ad-dress, 4-H Council President Paul Harrell thanked banquet attendees for their hard work and dedicated efforts throughout the past year, a year that celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the 4-H program nationwide. �Without the support of people like you, the Marshall County 4-H program wouldn�t be possible,� said Harrell.
During his opening address, Harrell also thanked Fulton-Marshall CO-OP, Marshall County REMC, and the Marshall County 4-H Junior Leaders for sponsoring the cost of the banquet. The First State Bank of
Bourbon and Lake City Banks of
Marshall County were recognized for their sponsorship of
4-H Leader calendars, presented annually to county 4-H volunteers. Harrell finished his opening remarks by thanking Heaven Scents Flowers and Gifts for donating table centerpieces.
Following dinner, Bourbon Township 4-H Member Morgan McClarnon provided entertainment by presenting her �I Am the U.S.� performance, a patriotic tribute to the history, liberty and freedom of the United States. Nine-year West Township 4-H member Sarah Benczik followed with a slide presentation depicting her involvement as an Indiana delegate to the National Conversation on Youth Devel-opment held in Washington last winter.
A list of leadership tenure was provided to attendees that evening, with special recognition given to volunteers celebrating 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years of service to 4-H. Kaye Schultz and Russell Ulery were recognized for 25 years of volunteerism, Helen Samuelson for 30 years, Alan & Linda Burch and Marilyn Weaver for 35 years, and Nancy Martin for 40 years. For her achievement, Martin was presented an engraved oak plaque and mirrored oak shelf by the 4-H Council.
The Outstanding 4-H Leader of the Year Award went to Shelly Hall. Junior Leader President Matt Ruby presented the award to Hall, a third-year leader from Walnut Township. Hall was chosen by the Junior Leaders because of her great enthusiasm for the 4-H program, in addition to her willingness to help out whenever called upon. Shelly serves on the Walnut Township 4-H Parent Committee and is acting secretary for the Marshall County 4-H Council.
Following the presentation of leadership awards, Harrell brought the program to a close by announcing the recipients of the 2002 Friends of 4-H Award, presented annually to individuals, businesses, or organizations that go above and beyond in their support of the county�s 4-H program.
Larry and Sharon Lemler of Lemler Locker were presented the award for their continued assistance with the 4-H swine carcass show. Carey Whiteman, also of Bourbon, was honored for her creation of an embroidered Marshall County 4-H quilt square, compiled with squares from Indiana�s other 91 counties to create a 4-H Centennial quilt.
By Stacey Creasy
Pilot News
PLYMOUTH � County officials said they will do "the best job the possibly can" in defending the plan commission's position on the Prairie Meadows subdivision.
Those same officials also agree the Indiana Court of Appeals will be a different ballyard..
Earlier this year, Marshall Superior Court Judge Robert O. Bowen denied a petition for writ of certiorari for Van Vactor Farms.
For more than two years, Van Vactor Farms has been trying to build a major subdivision on the west side of Olive Trail and the north side of 12th Road in Center and West townships. Prairie Meadows is designed to have 109 units.
By a 5-3 vote, the Plymouth Plan Commission voted to approved the preliminary plat for the housing development. City planners did not believe they had a legal reason to deny the project even though more than 200 people who reside in the area are against the subdivision.
The preliminary plat ran into a series of obstacles when it reached the Marshall County Plan Commission. After a pair of public hearings, county planners voted 4-4 on a motion to approve the plans. One planner, Harold Van Vactor abstained from voting.
A tie vote was the same as a denial for Van Vactor Farms because the court would only allow the project to proceed with a majority vote. The county planners later voted 5-4 against the project.
Residents in the area mounted a petition drive against the project. They claim the project would put too much traffic on local roads and would pose environmental hazards when the septic systems at the homes failed. There are no city services in the area.
County planners cited traffic as a legal concern for rejecting the plan.
The Van Vactor family contended the plans met state and county codes for a subdivision, which is why their attorney, John Peddycord of South Bend, filed the petition once the county plan commission rejected the plans.
One of the reasons there is some concern as to how the Appellate Court will rule is based in the language of the local court decision.
In his ruling, Bowen stated: "This is merely a review of the commission's determinations and is not a question of whether this court agrees with the commission's findings or determinations."
However, Bowen also said the burden is on the Van Vactor family to prove the findings were based on substantial evidence or were clearly erroneous. Marshall County Plan Director Troy Kiefer believes the plan commission made its decision based on sound evidence, but during the process Kiefer questioned whether the county's policy adequately covered subdivision rules and regulations.
Van Vactor Farms hopes the Appellate Court agrees the project meets state and local standards.
Plymouth Attorney Ken Lukenbill represents the plan commission, which has given Lukenbill the go-ahead to hire an Indianapolis firm to assist in the appeal
Peddycord has also added appeals court attorney Robert Palmer to assist Van Vactor Farms. "All I can say is we will do the best we can," Lukenbill said. "
|
|
| Community Calendar |
|
No events listed.
|
|
Interactive Calendar
|
