Craig Ray said he is a grading contractor in Polk County and the UDO will stifle business growth, which will create even more unemployment.
“It will not stop another Chocolate Drop disaster. Period,” Ray said. “That’s not an opinion, this is fact.”
Ray said the UDO will affect all Polk County residents over a couple of years and said commissioners should vote for common sense rules, “not 400 pages of micromanaging that requires a lawyer to interpret.”
Brad Foster said his family goes back more than 200 years in this county and he’s never seen anything like what’s going on now. Foster said he was a contractor and it’s costing him a lot of money to try to build a little place for his daughter.
“I think I know a little something about building without some outsider coming in and telling me how to do it,” said Foster.
Foster also asked for a referendum.
Ben Hudson said he is completely, 100 percent opposed to “whatever y’all call it.”
“This is the biggest waste in the history of the county,” said Hudson.
Hudson said he wants commissioners’ names so they do not get re-elected and said anyone who votes yes “should be tarred and feathered.”
Also speaking were 12 people who either spoke in favor of the UDO or thanked volunteers for all the work they’ve completed over the past few years.
Lisa Krolak said she is a member of the planning board and was a member of the UDO committee and the county did look for input on the UDO throughout the county. She said she is excited about the UDO and hopes commissioners get behind it.
Sky Conard said the county’s resources are gems and instrumental to the county’s health and future. She said the intention of the UDO is “to protect us and not to hurt us.”
Margaret Johnson thanked the nearly 100 people who have given their time to contribute to the UDO and said they were trying to do things to make our government more efficient. Johnson said several people have brought up that they are just now hearing about the UDO.
“One reason you’re hearing so much about it right now is because this is being used as an election platform,” Johnson said. “All you have to do is look at the ad in today’s Bulletin and you can see this is about the election.”
Commissioners made some comments following the public hearing and during the special meeting about the UDO. See upcoming issues of the Bulletin for more on the UDO meeting.