Joe DrennanStaff Writer
Things were moving along smoothly at the Columbus Township town board meeting Wednesday until the public open forum.
The board approved a minor subdivision request from Richard Zaccardi. The request calls for the division of approximately 20 acres to be divided into three separate parcels. Two parcels would be about five acres, while the third would be 9.47 acres.
There was some discussion about one of the smaller parcels because the actual measurement comes out to approximately 4.7 acres and Columbus township has a five acre minimum for lots. Town planner Dean Johnson explained that legally this parcel is acceptable because the parcel would be five acres if not for easements or right of ways.
Racino
The town board also discussed the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for the North Metro Harness Initiativeís proposed harness racing track. The board simply acknowledged a packet they had that contained a record of the public discussion that occurred Jan. 7, written comments regarding the EAW, and responses to those comments.
The formal discussion was simply to recognize that the EAW has been submitted, the 30-day comment period has closed, and comments and responses were included in the packet.
It wasnít until the public open forum that a resident of Columbus spoke up about the racetrack. Evan Whitby stood up and voiced his opinion that he feels the topic of whether a racetrack should be allowed into Columbus Township or not should be decided by a vote among the residents, not just the elected officials.
Board member John Wallner was quick to point out that to let the public vote on such an issue is not the best thing to do because there is no way to get all the information that has been presented to the town board out to people in an unbiased way.
ìItís a common request,î Town chairman Mel Mettler said. ìI hear the same question being asked about the Wyoming annexation. I think it would be nice if there was a way that it could be done, but there isnít.î
Whitby continued by saying that even though he is against the racetrack, if there was a poll of citizens and the majority of the people voted in favor of it, he would feel better than if there was no poll or vote and the racetrack was built.
Wallner understood Whitbyís request, but added that for all the publicity that the issue has gotten, only a handfull of residents has voiced their disapproval for the track.
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