(A) Creation of office. The office of the Zoning Administrator is hereby established for which the Board of County Commissioners may appoint such employee or employees of the county as it may deem proper. The term of office of the Zoning Administrator shall be indefinite and shall terminate at the pleasure of the County Administrator.
(B) Duties. The duties of the Zoning Administrator shall include the following:
(1)
To interpret, administer and enforce the provisions of this zoning ordinance and maintain records of such interpretations;
(2) Issue use permits and maintain records thereof;
(3) Receive and forward to the County Planning Commission all applications for conditional or interim use permits and interim use permits;
(4) Receive and forward all applications for and petitions for matters to come before the Board of Adjustment;
(5) Receive and forward to the Board of County Commissioners and the County Planning Commission all applications for amendments to this chapter and the county zoning map;
(6) Appoints agents to inspect all construction and development to ensure that the standards of this chapter are being complied with;
(7) Provide and maintain a public information bureau relative to matters arising out of this chapter;
(8) Maintain the county zoning map as required in § 155.046 of this chapter; and
(9) Notify the Commissioner of Natural Resources or the Commissioner’s designated representative of public hearings to consider variances, amendments, interim or conditional uses under local shoreland management controls. These notices must be postmarked at least ten days before the hearings. Notices of hearings to consider proposed subdivisions/plats must include copies of the subdivision/plat. A copy of approved amendments and subdivisions/plats, and final decisions granting variances, interim or conditional uses under local shoreland management controls must be sent to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designated representative and postmarked within ten days of final action.
(10) It shall be the duty of the Zoning Administrator to enforce this chapter through the proper legal channels.
(11) To establish and administer rules and regulations relating to the administration of this zoning ordinance, including application forms.
(12) It shall be the duty of the County Attorney and the Sheriff of Wright County when called upon by the Zoning Administrator, to perform such duties as may be necessary to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
(13) The Zoning Administrator shall not accept, process, or issue any permit or other application for any property on which there is a violation of any Wright County Ordinance, unless the Zoning Administrator determines that the permit or application is necessary to resolve the violation.
(14) To take such other actions as reasonable and necessary for the administration and enforcement of this zoning ordinance.
(C) Appeals of the Zoning Administrator. All findings and decisions of the Zoning Administrator, Building Official, Environmental Health Supervisor, Feedlot Administrator or other official involved in the administration or the enforcement of this zoning ordinance shall be final subject to appeal to the Board of Adjustment, except as otherwise provided by this zoning ordinance. Appeals may be initiated by any affected person by filing the appeal with the Zoning Administrator on a form approved by the Zoning Administrator and by paying the required fee. All appeals shall be filed within 15 calendar days of the date of the decision or adoption of this chapter. All appeals must state the basis for the appeal at the time of filing the appeal. The Zoning Administrator is prohibited from accepting or filing an application of an untimely appeal. Timely filing of an appeal shall stay all proceedings in the action appealed, unless the Zoning Administrator certifies to the Board of Adjustment, with service of a copy to the applicant, that a stay would cause imminent peril to life or property, in which case the proceedings shall not be stayed.
(Ord. 22-4, passed 11-29-2022; Ord. 23-1, passed 5-2-2023; Ord. 23-4, passed 12-19-2023)