Zoning board membership rule modified

McCOOK, Neb. — City leaders suspended the three reading rule and approved an ordinance change to require one member of the Board of Zoning Adjustment to reside within McCook’s 2-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction. The change was described as stemming from a desire to align with state statute.

During Monday’s meeting of the McCook City Council, City Manager Nate Schneider said he wanted to make sure the city didn’t have anything “that was counter to what the state had in the statute,” adding city staff was reviewing Board of Zoning Adjustment policy and discovered a requirement for one board member to reside within the 2-mile extraterritorial zone. At the same time, board member Keith Delano decided he would leave the board which prompted the effort to address the situation when new board member Rick Haney was named as the replacement, according to Schneider.

“It is a requirement, might as well go ahead and do it right now while we’re bringing in our new Board of Zoning Adjustment member, which is [McCook Public Schools Business Manager] Rick Haney,” said Schneider.

City Council members unanimously approved the amendment and suspended the three-reading rule without further discussion. The three-reading rule was suspended so Haney could be named to the board prior to a June 26 meeting, according to the meeting packet. Haney’s listed address is 71392 County Road 385.

How long the Board of Zoning Adjustment had been out of compliance with state law was not discussed during Monday’s meeting.

The approved change amends Chapter 35, section 35.030, of the City of McCook Code of Ordinances to state at least one member of board shall reside outside the corporate boundaries of the city but within its extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction. The language includes a statutory reference to similar state law provisions in Neb. RS 19-907 through 19-910.

Also during Monday’s meeting:

* The fiscal year 2017-18 contract between Heritage Senior Center and the West Central Nebraska Area Agency on Aging, relating to responsibilities in the management, operation, support, monitoring and evaluation of the senior center was approved.