The Guthrie County Board of Supervisors approved a contract with Region XII Council of Governments to provide zoning administrator duties, Thursday.

The Board initially cringed at the thought of paying the asking price of $75/hour for the service, but Region XII Local Assistance Director Chris Whitaker say that’s a discounted rate. “I’ll throw (Executive Director) Rick (Hunsaker) under the bus. He originally wanted $100/hour, but I thought $75/hour was enough. That is what our sister organizations typically charge, though.”

While researching Guthrie County’s zoning situation, Whitaker was surprised to find out they have no zoning map. “The zoning map, or lack thereof, I don’t know how you really have been functioning, because typically someone applies for a building permit for a location and you look at the map to see what district it’s in and whether the construction can occur. I don’t know how permits have been issued without zoning districts”

Deputy Assessor Nikki Carrick spoke with former Assessor and Zoning Administrator Rusty Pearson and they determined there hasn’t been a zoning map in place since before Pearson arrived in January 2011.

The Board of Supervisors say they didn’t know there wasn’t a zoning map but they want to get one created. Whitaker says Region XII can create a zoning map. “I’ll throw a number out. Typically we do smaller city maps for a couple thousand dollars. We would probably be at $2,500-$3,000 for the zoning map, and that would be a lump sum deal.”

A resolution to approve a contract for the creation of the zoning map will be voted on at a future meeting.