Kirk Scharphorn Jr. of Professional Code Inspections appeared before the Watson Township Board Thursday evening to explain how and why PCI performs zoning enforcement services.
Watson officials recently expressed concerns about delays in actions taken on issues, particularly most recently with the Adrianson gravel mining operations that were allowed to continue without the proper permits.
The Watson Township Planning Commission late last month denied a permit request, but as frequent board meeting visitor Ken Pardee asked, “How can you be denied something you don’t have?”
Part of the problem is that the Adrianson firm supplies via contract a lot of gravel to municipalities for roads, Scharphorn said. “We were promised things (in negotiations) but they didn’t get done. He didn’t even show up for the (Sept. 26 Planning Commission) meeting.”
Scharphorn explained that “We’re here to provide services that you want and need, but we don’t do your public notices unless you ask… We lose money as a company for doing it (ordinance enforcement), but it’s part of the package. Perhaps we should do a better job of keeping you informaed of what we’re doing.”
Indeed, Supervisor Kevin Travis asked that PCI provide some kind of monthly update on its activities in Watson and Scharphorn agreed.
“The zoning process isn’t as quick as we’d like it to be,” he added. “And judges lately have been reluctant to assess fines and costs to the defendants, seeking just compliance instead.
“We’re incurring a lot of costs for these,” Scharphorn said, noting particularly the case in Martin Township that cost the municipality and PCI a lot of money to attempt to enforce. The judge ruled in their favor, but let the defendant off the hook for fines and costs.
“We need to get our fees because we spend a lot of time and money on enforcement efforts.”
Travis added that the township also spends money in crafting and adopting the ordinances.
Scharphorn said the emphasis in recent years has changed from providing services for zoning and planning to enforcement of issues such as blight.
“Blight issues are complaint driven,” he noted. “I don’t drive all over the county looking for violations.”
Furthermore, he said, “The courthouse is very busy, so zoning enforcement cases are not a top priority.”
He acknowledged that PCI has undergone growing pains and has had to add enforcement officers to staff. While his father, Kirk Sr., PCI’s founder, is slowly trying to ease into retirement, the company now may have as many as five full-time officers.
In other business at Thursday’s meeting, the Township Board:
• Identified 120th Avenue another high priority road for paving and improvements, but acknowledged its my be more necessary next year to spend $175,000 on replacing and repairing culverts. Treasurer Sue Jones noted a dysfunctional culvert can ruin travel on an entire road.
• Was told by Planning Commission liaison Chuck Andrysiak that the Schnable Lake campground soon will ask for necessary permits for expansion.
• Agreed to pay $1,315 to Tustin Asphalt Sealing for repairing the cracks on the parking lot west of the township hall.