SCOTT CITY SPECIAL-USE VIOLATIONS ALLEGED

SCOTT CITY -- The Scott City Planning and Zoning Committee will be asked to call a special meeting as quickly as possible to address a number of possible special-use violations.

Two of those accused of violating the ordinance governing special-use permits are Public Works director John Rogers and his sister Carolyn Tinsley, another city employee.

Mayor Jerry Cummins said Monday night at the regular council meeting that council members were recently made aware of all the violations and were taking steps to correct the situation. He said he would not elaborate on those actions because the accusations involved city employees.

Richard Brawley, who owns an apartment building on Second Street East, said Rogers has been living in a building on Second Street for three years that he intends to turn into a museum.

"For three years he has been telling that story, but there's nothing on the outside of the building saying it's a business," Brawley said.

Rogers said in his defense that he has the appropriate licenses to begin the business.

Brawley was asked to appear before the council because of a violation with his apartment building. The planning and zoning committee had asked for proof that Brawley was complying with his contract and supplying parking behind his building.

Brawley said the space was there but his tenants don't choose to park behind the building. He said he would post signs to try and come into compliance with the agreement.

Brawley then asked why Rogers and Tinsley were not asked to go through the same special-use application process that he and others were made to do. He said Tinsley recently moved into a commercially-zoned building on Second Street East without taking any steps to come into compliance with the law.

He repeatedly asked the council what they intended to do and council members would only reply that the matter had just recently come to their attention and was being handled.

The planning and zoning committee will also hear from Eleanor Carr and Karen Sanders, who are working to renovate a building on East Hickory and Second Street East. Sanders hopes to live in the commercially-zoned building, turn part of it into an inn and house her business, Country at Heart, in the rest. She has applied for a special-use permit, and the committee will recommend to the council whether they feel she has met all the criteria for approval.

The next regular planning and zoning committee meeting is scheduled for Oct. 14. The council is hoping to advertise and arrange for a meeting sooner than that.