Supervisors set public hearing for zoning ordinance

A public hearing and first reading of the proposed Washington County zoning ordinance is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 10, in the new 4-H Building on the Washington County fairgrounds.  Gary Lozano of RDG of Omaha, Nebraska, and Des Moines, will be present to facilitate.   RDG was hired more than a year ago to coordinate the drafting of the ordinance. The supervisors set the hearing at their meeting Tuesday.
It is likely that the second and third readings will be held February 16 and February 23 as part of the regular supervisors weekly meetings. the ordinance has drawn considerable fire from opponents, especially the Free County grass roots organization, who have been asking the supervisors since August to not pass the ordinance.
In other business Tuesday, the board:

• approved an agreement with the United States Census to aid with promotional, educational and informational efforts, including postings of articles on the county website and links to the Census 2010 website.  Additionally, supervisor Adam Mangold was appointed as liaison with the Census Bureau;
• accepted the low bid of $60,001.50 from DeLong Construction, Washington, for the riverbank stabilization project on 130th Street.  Other bids were $82,394, $78,479.75, $72,828, and $65,222.80.  DeLong’s bid is virtually $20,000 less than the estimated $80,000 cost; and
• approved a resolution acknowledging the voluntary annexation of a tract of land along Highway 22 by the City of Riverside. The Tener land recently was re-zoned go allow for commercial development on the south side of Highway 22 near Bud’s Custom Meats.  A public hearing on the annexation is set for February 1 during the regular Riverside council meeting.