Information from the Mower County Planning Department refutes an allegation made by Harold Boverhuis.

Thursday, January 20, 2000

Information from the Mower County Planning Department refutes an allegation made by Harold Boverhuis.

The Lansing village resident wrote a letter to the editor of the Austin Daily Herald that was published Jan. 12.

Boverhuis, a contractor, is a member of the Mower County Planning Commission and County Board of Adjustment, which decides issues when variances from the county zoning ordinance are sought.

Sharon Cordes, also a Lansing village resident, called for Boverhuis to step down or be removed from the twin county posts at a Mower County Board of Commissioners’ meeting in earlier January.

The request for an investigation was taken under advisement. Then-county board chair, Richard P. Cummings, whose 1st District includes the village of Lansing, said the matter would be investigated by Glen Jacobsen, chief deputy prosecutor for the Mower County Attorney.

As of Wednesday, no recommendation has been forwarded to the county board on the Boverhuis matter.

In his Jan. 12 letter to the editor, Boverhuis denied wrong-doing. Immediately after Cordes called for his removal, he also said publicly he will not step down.

In the letter, Boverhuis said, Lansing village resident Dennis Wehrhan’s "new garage needs a compliance check."

Dennis Wehrhan responded to Boverhuis’ allegations by producing a letter dated June 17, 1996.

In the letter, Daryl W. Franklin, the county’s planning director, wrote Wehrhan about his garage setback.

"At this time, you have provided information that verifies that there had been a garage previously on this location, which was actually closer to the right-of-way than the new garage. Based on this situation, you are not establishing a new setback and as such you would not need to apply for a variance under the Mower County Zoning Ordinance."