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Rey Johnson has resigned from the Grass Valley Planning Commission, citing an inability to vote on key city issues because of possible conflicts with his land holdings.
The commissioner has interests in properties near the Idaho-Maryland Mine and Loma Rica Ranch in Grass Valley that could benefit if projects at those areas move forward.
“I resigned due to my inability to input (on) two of the important projects coming up in the city,” Johnson wrote Saturday in an e-mail to The Union. “With my holdings around town, I am foreclosed from voting on those projects.”
The commissioner is also chairman of the board at Pacific Land Enterprises, a real estate development, management and marketing firm in Grass Valley. The company has three buildings for sale or lease in the Whispering Pines Business Park, which sits between the gold mine, proposed to reopen, and the Loma Rica property, proposed for a mixed-use housing development.
“The citizens of Grass Valley deserve to be represented by someone who is able to voice their opinion without restrictions on these very important projects,” Johnson wrote. “The most pressing issue for the city is to make decisions that are good for the vitality and health of the community, not the personal agenda of a few.”
“He's semi-retired and has a new home in Montana” and wants to spend more time there, Mayor Lisa Swarthout added. “Rey felt he had a lot of conflicts in the community with all the land he owns.”
The former planning commissioner will be replaced with someone to finish his term, which expires Dec. 10, 2010. The replacement will be made upon recommendation of City Councilman Dan Miller, who could not be reached for comment.
After serving three years on the panel, with one term as chairman, Johnson said he thought Derek Poppell would make a good replacement for him. However, “the appointment is entirely Dan Miller's decision.” Poppell could not be reached for comment.
Each council person nominates a member for the Planning Commission, who is appointed to the panel by a vote of the council.
The replacement will be the third new planning commissioner since December 2008.
At that time, new City Councilwoman Yolanda Cookson selected Daniel Swartzendruber to replace Larry Hoffman, who had served for then-outgoing Mayor Mark Johnson. Swarthout named former mayor and councilwoman Patti Ingram at the same time to replace Eleanor Kenitzer, who stepped down because of potential conflicts with her job as officer manager at the Idaho-Maryland Mine Corp.
Both Johnson and Kenitzer stopped voting on the mine in November. Kenitzer did so voluntarily, and Johnson stopped after City Attorney Ruthann Ziegler issued a legal opinion saying he could have conflicts with mine votes.
Applications for the position can be obtained from City Clerk Kristi Bashor at City Hall, 125 E. Main St. or at www.cityofgrassvalley.com.
You also can call Bashor at 274-4310 or Planning Clerk Sue Colbert at 274-4330 to have an application mailed or for more information. The deadline is 5 p.m. July 8.
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
The commissioner has interests in properties near the Idaho-Maryland Mine and Loma Rica Ranch in Grass Valley that could benefit if projects at those areas move forward.
“I resigned due to my inability to input (on) two of the important projects coming up in the city,” Johnson wrote Saturday in an e-mail to The Union. “With my holdings around town, I am foreclosed from voting on those projects.”
The commissioner is also chairman of the board at Pacific Land Enterprises, a real estate development, management and marketing firm in Grass Valley. The company has three buildings for sale or lease in the Whispering Pines Business Park, which sits between the gold mine, proposed to reopen, and the Loma Rica property, proposed for a mixed-use housing development.
“The citizens of Grass Valley deserve to be represented by someone who is able to voice their opinion without restrictions on these very important projects,” Johnson wrote. “The most pressing issue for the city is to make decisions that are good for the vitality and health of the community, not the personal agenda of a few.”
“He's semi-retired and has a new home in Montana” and wants to spend more time there, Mayor Lisa Swarthout added. “Rey felt he had a lot of conflicts in the community with all the land he owns.”
The former planning commissioner will be replaced with someone to finish his term, which expires Dec. 10, 2010. The replacement will be made upon recommendation of City Councilman Dan Miller, who could not be reached for comment.
After serving three years on the panel, with one term as chairman, Johnson said he thought Derek Poppell would make a good replacement for him. However, “the appointment is entirely Dan Miller's decision.” Poppell could not be reached for comment.
Each council person nominates a member for the Planning Commission, who is appointed to the panel by a vote of the council.
The replacement will be the third new planning commissioner since December 2008.
At that time, new City Councilwoman Yolanda Cookson selected Daniel Swartzendruber to replace Larry Hoffman, who had served for then-outgoing Mayor Mark Johnson. Swarthout named former mayor and councilwoman Patti Ingram at the same time to replace Eleanor Kenitzer, who stepped down because of potential conflicts with her job as officer manager at the Idaho-Maryland Mine Corp.
Both Johnson and Kenitzer stopped voting on the mine in November. Kenitzer did so voluntarily, and Johnson stopped after City Attorney Ruthann Ziegler issued a legal opinion saying he could have conflicts with mine votes.
Applications for the position can be obtained from City Clerk Kristi Bashor at City Hall, 125 E. Main St. or at www.cityofgrassvalley.com.
You also can call Bashor at 274-4310 or Planning Clerk Sue Colbert at 274-4330 to have an application mailed or for more information. The deadline is 5 p.m. July 8.
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
