Supervisors’ November 20 meeting: Portable buildings, brush clearing

Monday morning the Union County Supervisors approved an ordinance regarding the use of portable buildings for human housing and accepted bids for work on the courthouse windows.

However, the first item on the Supervisors’ November 20 meeting’s 16-item agenda, the one that lasted the longest (about 20 minutes), was a re-statement of a complaint the board heard at its Nov. 6 meeting. Sharon Nichols of 725 County Road 54 complained about the county having recently cleared brush from county-owned land across the road from her house.

View from Nichols home southwest toward Hwy. 30, with Walmart Distribution Center on horizon.

The same complaint was made to the supervisors at their Nov. 6 by Don Nichols.

Sharon Nichols said Monday that she and Don Nichols are wife and husband.

Union County bought the 100-acre parcel of land on the south side of CR 54 in 2015 and intends to use it for future industrial development. The county bought the 100 acres from investors, who bought it in 2007, also intending it for industrial purposes.
Both Don and Sharon Nichols said in their appearances before the county board that the county has the right to do whatever it wants with the land it owns.

However, Nichols and Nichols protest that clearing the brush across the road from their house has altered their view in a manner they do not like. Now, instead of a view of small timber and brush, the vista from their manse extends all the way to Highway 30 and the Walmart Distribution Center.

This mobile home is nearest neighbor to 725 CR 54.

Sharon Nichols said clearing the brush from the county-owned land, “exposed our property to a less-than-favorable view of the Walmart Distribution Center.”

Don Nichols implied in his Nov. 6 appearance that the county should have consulted with him before clearing the brush from its land. He said he wanted the county to plant maple trees and crape myrtles to improve his view.

Sharon Nichols asked Monday morning what specific plans the county has for its 100 acres and whether the county planned to impose a zoning code. Board President Dave Kitchens said future plans would depend upon the needs of industries that might wish to locate on the 100 acres. As to future zoning, Kitchens said, “No.”

[See link below to story about complaint at Nov. 6 board meeting.]

The supervisors approved a new ordinance regulating the use of portable, manufactured buildings. [See complete text below.]

On the recommendation of its consulting architect William Mills, the board accepted bids totaling $104,700 for installing energy-efficient windows in the 108-year-old Union County Courthouse.

The board approved advertising for bids for bridge work on County Roads 128 and 188.

Union County Portable Home Ordinance

For first brush clearing complaint: November 6th meeting