Mount Pleasant Planning Commission discusses ethics policy; City Commissioners to discuss subject Monday

A proposed city ethics policy might not have the approval of many on the Mount Pleasant Planning Commission.

Commissioners discussed the proposed policy at Thursday’s meeting. While no action was taken, some commissioners felt uneasy about a clause that bars public officials from discussing agenda items that could result in private gain from a company they work for, especially when it comes to lending.

The policy will go in front of the City Commission during its meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 302 W. Broadway St.

Commissioner Rick Rautanen said Thursday because of the broadness of the policy, it could lead to more situations that would reduce the number of commissioners needed to take action.

“We could have two people that could vote on this, if you stretch it out,” he said.

Vice chairman Jeff Smith said if the proposed policy was in effect last year, he would have been able to participate in only half of the votes because of his employment at Isabella Bank.

Jeff Gray, director of planning and community development, said he did not believe the policy would try and exempt people who are not directly involved.

“I don’t believe it is to exclude someone with Jeff’s background,” he said.

Other business

The Planning Commission postponed until April a decision, which could allow an addition added to the Q-Sage industrial building at 2150 JBS Trail.

In submitting the paperwork, JBS Contracting overlooked a property line that runs between the property and existing JBS Contracting site. The overlook of the property line would infringe on the 30-foot setback.

Planners could have approved the plan on the condition the property line issue was resolved, but decided to hold.

“Typically, I don’t like to do the conditional (approval),” Smith said. “It really doesn’t matter if we wait a week.”

The Planning Commission also approved the city’s parks and recreation master plan, which will go in front of the City Commission Monday during a public hearing.

The board also decided to hold a special session at 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall with the City Commission to review the 2009 Annual Report and the 2010 goals.