Conley ends fruitful run as city planning commission chair

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

For the first time in 16 years, there?s someone else running Rogers City Planning Commission meetings. Longtime chairman Del Conley relinquished the gavel Monday night at city hall to Chuck Vogelheim, who had been serving as vice chairman. Planning commission bylaws call for the election of officers in July; however, Conley asked city manager Mark Slown to place ?election of officers? on this week?s agenda. ?You are probably surprised to see that,? said Conley, when the item came up for discussion. ?I talked to Mark last week, and despite having hearing aids, I?m having a devil of a time hearing, and I don?t think I can do this job adequately with that handicap.?

Conley asked the board to accept his resignation effective immediately, but he still wants to continue serving as a board member. He has served on the board for 17 years. He suggested the election of officers be conducted early, or to have the vice chair take over until July. CITY ATTORNEY Mike Vogler preferred the latter until the formal election of officers takes place in a little more than three months.

After the two men switched chairs and Vogelheim was handed the gavel, he said the first order of business was the appointing of a new vice chair. John Nordin was nominated by Ray Zwolinski and seconded by Deb Greene. ?Will you accept it?? asked Vogelheim. ?Yes,? said Nordin. There were no other nominations, and the appointment was approved by unanimous vote.

?I would lik

e to thank Del,? said mayor Beach Hall, who serves on the panel. ?How many years have you been the chairman of the planning commission? A long time!? Conley said, ?It was a very interesting experience, and for the most part, very positive. I think you?ll enjoy it Chuck.? Hall also commended Conley for his work with the recently revised zoning ordinance, which ?was a two-year labor of love.? Conley served as superintendent of Rogers City Schools from 1979 to 1991. THE PLANNING commission also had two new representatives serving their first meeting. Neil Tolly and Wendy Martin were both introduced by the mayor.

Tolly is a former business owner and Rogers City building trades teacher, while Martin is the daughter of the late Sam Felax, who served on the city council for several years. Hall has one more appointment to get the board back to nine members, since Slown has been removed as a voting member. ?City council felt strongly that he should be a staff member for both planning and CDA (Community Development Authority), but not be a voting member,? said Hall, who is looking at appointing a new member by the next meeting.