Flippin’ and floppin’: Court again changes its vote on repealing 2010 zoning regs

In yet another turn of events in the Spencer County Fiscal Court’s zoning classification saga, on Monday, the court rescinded its prior vote, which took place on May 21, and revoted — this time to repeal its agricultural, residential, commercial and industrial zoning classifications, which had been in place since 2010.
The court voted 5-1 in favor of the repeal at its April 16 meeting. During the court’s first May meeting, the same votes were cast to approve the measure in ordinance form on first reading — 5-1, with only Judge-Executive Bill Karrer voting nay.
However, between May 7 and May 21, magistrates Mike Moody and Woodie Cheek changed their minds and their votes.
On May 21, Moody, Cheek and Karrer voted against the repeal; magistrates Hobert Judd, David Goodlett and Jerry Davis voted for it. A tie vote fails, so the repeal was not approved.
Minutes for the May 21 meeting were not approved until Monday night’s meeting, so the vote did not become final until this week’s meeting.
Monday night, Cheek vocalized his intent to change his vote yet again.
“I’ve struggled with this zoning ruling,” Cheek said during discussion of whether to approve the May 21 meeting minutes. “I really don’t know what to do to this day ... can I change my vote? Or do we have to go through that process again?”
Karrer told Cheek that if he would wait a few minutes, he’d get an answer.
Further into the meeting, the court decided to rescind its vote on another matter — paving estimates from the June 4 meeting — and approve the company that submitted the low bid instead of the company it originally approved at the June 4 meeting.
Further still into the meeting, during the portion reserved for comments from members, other offices or committees, Cheek made a motion to rescind the vote on the second reading of the zoning classification ordinance and take another vote.
After reading the ordinance, the court voted 3-2 in favor of approving the repeal.
Goodlett, Davis and Cheek voted in favor of the appeal; Moody and Karrer were opposed. Magistrate Hobert Judd was on vacation and absent from the meeting.
For more information on Monday’s Fiscal Court meeting, including information on the 2012-13 budget, see next week’s edition of The Spencer Magnet.