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To the Editor,

     There are five ELECTED Supervisors in Jones County.

     The Supervisors appoint five county residents to embody a Planning and Zoning Board (P&Z). These persons are tasked with writing the regulations for what “We the People” may do with OUR property. These regulations include everything from cutting down a tree to putting signs on a building. The Supervisors approve these regulations and pay an administrator to ENFORCE them.

     When the administrator determines a P&Z regulation has been broken, the P&Z Board and property owner are notified. The property owner is given choices for a resolution. If the property owner doesn’t agree with a resolution, for a fee, he/she can appeal to the Board of Adjustment (BOA), which is also comprised of five county residents appointed by the ELECTED Supervisors.

     If the BOA gives the property owner a “variance,” all is well. (This variance makes the P&Z Board very upset because the BOA did not follow the P&Z Board’s REGULATIONS.) However, if the BOA says, “you did break the regulations,” all is not well. Now, you can be fined, a warrant can be issued, or you can spend more time and money in a lawsuit.

     Who is hurt in this situation; certainly, the property owner, in time, money, stress, and delays and the taxpayers, who foot the bill?

     Whatever happened to COMMON SENSE?

     The primary and general election will soon be here. VOTE.

     My opinion – I’m just saying!

Cindy Davies

Anamosa, Iowa