Board of Adjustment nominee has dispute with county

Crow Wing County commissioners Tuesday found themselves in the unusual position of having a number of candidates vying for an appointment, and at least one came with a little controversy.

Five people responded to a published call for applicants for an open at-large position on the Board of Adjustment. Applicants included Howard Blanck, Charles Boudrye, Don Hales, Mary Koep and Kurt Martin. Commissioners suggested there may be more candidates interested. None of the candidates for the two-year appointment were present for the meeting.

Commissioner Rosemary Franzen recommended appointing Martin. Dennis Myers, planning and zoning enforcement officer, said Martin had ongoing land-use violations that should be considered as a potential conflict of interest.

Franzen said that since Martin has been on the other side of the issue, he'd be willing to take the side of people coming to the board but still follow the law.

What's next?

A Crow Wing County committee meeting to interview candidates for the Board of Adjustment is planned from 4-5:30 p.m. March 6 in the Central Services Building meeting room on Laurel Street in Brainerd.

Commissioner Rachel Reabe Nystrom and Franzen plan to invite candidates for interviews and return with recommendations for the board for its first meeting in March.

As she was leaving the meeting for an afternoon appointment, Franzen said she wasn't sure Martin had an official violation, but said she didn't know all the specifics. She talked to Todd Holman, former county planning and zoning administrator, about the issue. Franzen said she didn't talk to Myers about it but did have letters from him regarding the issue.

"I just didn't feel this man would do a bad job," Franzen said of Martin. "I just think we need people who can represent the people. I think diverse views are really good."

In a phone interview after the board meeting Tuesday, Martin said his dispute with the county began after he outlined a plan to remodel his beach house in the fall of 2005. The county planning and zoning office informed Martin that it thought his beach house was a boat house. Issues arose about impervious surface coverage and building permits dating back to his original house permit in 1997.

Martin said he received an administrative notice threatening a citation but never received one. After the planning and zoning office did not give him a permit to re-roof his beach house, Martin said he appealed to the Board of Adjustment and was denied. Martin said the next avenue may be appealing the decision in court, depending on what the county does.

In a letter to Myers, Martin suggested that the enforcement officer should resign. Martin said decisions at the Board of Adjustment were based on personal conjecture more than the ordinances. Martin said Myers' behavior at the Board of Adjustment meeting was belligerent and the entire experience frustrating and had a direct bearing on his desire for the appointment. Myers did not return a call for comment.

Martin said that, if appointed, he would base his votes on the ordinance, and if there was a gray area, he would go with the property owner. RENEE RICHARDSON can be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.