Group created to study county traffic issues
Douglas County commissioners Wednesday approved forming a traffic safety advisory committee.
Keith Browning, the county's director of Public Works, said the committee will start meeting monthly in May and will focus on traffic-enforcement issues, road-safety improve-ments and public information and education.
He said the group will focus on "big picture" issues rather than day-to-day traffic issues that require an evaluation by public works staff, such as a speed limit study.
The seven-member committee's makeup will be one appointee by each of the commissioners, a member from the Sheriff's Department and two members appointed by the Public Works Department. Browning, the seventh member, was designated as the group's chairperson.
Department head wins hiring approval
County commissioners Wednesday authorized the Douglas County Emergency Communications Department to hire two additional employees.
Director Jim Denney said the department has had two vacancies since January and three other people in training. He said he expects to have two more vacancies before the current trainees can be added into the work schedule without immediate supervision.
Denney said he did not need additional funds for the request because money not spent since January would be spent instead during the overlap period.
Commissioner Charles Jones voted against the request, saying he wanted to see overtime documented to know whether the county would be spending more to hire additional employees.
Jones also wondered if Denney's request would set a precedent for other departments, such as the jail and community corrections, that have a high employee-turnover rate.
Costs to increase for dust control
The county's annual dust-prevention program received the green light from commissioners.
Participants will be charged 50 cents per linear foot, compared to 40 cents last spring. Applications must be submitted by April 4.
The county will continue for a second year applying magnesium chloride to control the dust on rural roads.
Rezoning request deferred again
For the third time, Douglas County commissioners tabled a rezoning request this time at the applicant's request.
Todd Thompson, attorney for Charles Mestagh, owner of McLouth Excavating, asked the county to delay considering the application until March 28. Thompson said he hopes to learn more about the county's direction for future rezoning requests during next week's work session with planning staff.
According to Mestagh, his five-acre property would comply with the requirements for a light industrial district. The land, near Midland Junction, is currently zoned agricultural.
Mestagh has offered to create a buffer by asking for rezoning on about three acres where he operates his business, which is adjacent to Arnie's Boat Sales and Service; the rest of Mestagh's property would remain zoned agricultural.
Commissioner Charles Jones said he wants to have a consensus among the commissioners before they vote on the issue.
Mestagh has been operating his business without the proper zoning.
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