County moves ahead on plan

After completing its fifth public input session, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors prepares to construct its first ever comprehensive plan.

The supervisors completed that fifth session this week; the sessions gauged residents’ inputs on the county’s first ever comprehensive plan.

The plan will be similar to the current land-use plan but will be more inclusive, said Supervisor Vice Chairman Mike Carberry.

They are on schedule to create the plan, which is expected to be finished by Jan. 1, 2018.

He noted that, in terms of planning, a growing county is different than a shrinking county.

“[Growth is] a good problem to have,” he said. “[It] also [means] a growing tax base.”

For the supervisors, he said, how the county manages growth is important.

“I’m glad that Johnson County is the second-fastest growing county in the state,” he said.

When it comes to growth, however, he said, some people want to see more in the county and some people want to see less.

“Everyone has [her or his] own opinion,” he said. “On all these issues we’ve heard both sides — our job is to do the best thing for the county.”

— by Madeleine Neal