Posted: 8/2/05
Solum house seven month timeline
Here is a timeframe of events that occurred regarding the Jared Solum house, pictured above left, and pole barn, above right
ï November 15, 2004: Scanlan meets with Gary Thomas, Jared Solumís business partner, at the proposed building site on Mapleleaf Drive in Spring Grove Township.
ï November 18: The Houston County Planning Commission tells Thomas and Jared Solumís uncle, Dale Solum, not to start the project at that site.
ï November 24: Thomas and Jared Solum come into the zoning office to start the permit process. They are given a permit application, a soil erosion plan form, and a list of septic contractors.
ï November 30: Scanlan is told by county commissioner Dave Corcoran that work is proceeding at the site. He visits the site along with Root River SWCD conservationist Ron Meiners and soil technician Dave Walter. They see that the foundation has been poured. A septic system is also being installed without a permit.
ï December 1: Scanlan issues a stop-work order for construction at the site. It is delivered to the site at about 9:30 a.m. by Houston County Sheriffís Deputy Mark Ernster. Jared Solum and Thomas drop off a soil erosion plan at the zoning office that afternoon.
ï December 16: Scanlan visits the site again and sees that a house has been built. He tells the planning commission of this at their meeting that night.
ï December 27: Scanlan receives a permit fee and application for a conditional use permit from Solum.
ï January 27, 2005: Planning commission members review the Solum conditional use permit application. The planning commission tables the matter until they can look at the site.
ï February 16: Planning commission members visit the site, then meet and vote 6-1 to deny the conditional use permit.
ï February 22: The Houston County Board votes unanimously to approve the planning commissionís recommendation denying the conditional use permit. Two commissioners are appointed to work with county attorney Rick Jackson to recommend the next course of action and a time frame for having it done.
ï March 1: Commissioners set August 1, 2005 as the deadline for Solum to come into compliance with county zoning law. His options are: 1. Tear down the house and restore the building site to its original condition; 2. Move the house to an adjoining 40-acre parcel of land that Solum owns; 3. Keep the dwelling where it is by maintaining at least 40 contiguous acres and removing all other dwellings on the parcel.
ï July 5: Commissioners learn that Solum has acquired 40 contiguous acres of land. The only obstacle remaining to Solum moving into his home is that a pole building on that parcel has the potential of being used as a dwelling. It had been used as one in the past, and received homestead credit in 2004.
ï July 12: Commissioners change their minds and ask that just Scanlan and Frank view the property to see if it is in compliance, rather than the entire planning commission.
ï July 19: County attorney Rick Jackson tells commissioners that an affidavit signed by Solum does not meet the countyís requirements to make the property in compliance with the zoning ordinance.
ï July 26, 2005: Commissioners approved the zoning permit for Solum after hearing that he has signed an affidavit stating that he will not use the pole barn as a dwelling, and hearing that the living quarters in the pole building have been converted to storage space.
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