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County Board denies Horrorland's relocation request

Posted August 27, 2016 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler Staff Writer

The future of one of the county's annual Halloween-themed events is now up in the air.

During its regular meeting on Friday, the Randolph County Board of Commissioners concurred with a Zoning Board of Appeals recommendation to deny a special use permit for Laurie Umbdenstock to move "Horrorland" from its spot in Modoc to Goose Lake Road in Prairie du Rocher.

The commissioners heard arguments from both sides of the issue before voting.

"I'm not opposed to what you're trying to do," said Commissioner Dave Holder to Umbdenstock after the board voted unanimously to accept the zoning board's recommendation. "We have to take into consideration the property owners."

Umbdenstock noted that Horrorland is not political or religious, and is intended to be a positive event to raise money for various causes.

"This event was to be enclosed in a shed and not spread out through the property," Umbdenstock said, while adding that collapsible fencing - later stated to be snow fencing - would be used to separate the event from neighboring property.

She also noted that the event would be conducted by local people and not "riff raff from the city."

"I completely understand everyone's concerns," Umbdenstock said. "What I don't understand is completely biased remarks."

Horrorland, which typically occurs each weekend in October, already has a special use permit for both this year and 2017 for its current spot at 6480 Simpson St. in Modoc, but Umbdenstock said flooding has caused safety issues at that location.

David Walter, Land Resource Management administrator for the county, said there were objections to the relocation from neighboring property owners on Goose Lake Road.

During a zoning board hearing on Aug. 9, those objections were stated to be that the neighbors - who are elderly - did not want the traffic or the noise allegedly associated with the event.

"We've done it before and never had issues with cops, people passing out or needing an ambulance," said Tyson Bang, Umbdenstock's business partner who attended the county board meeting with Umbdenstock.

Gaylon McCarson, one of the neighboring property owners who also attended meeting, stated it was his intention after he retired from Menard Correctional Center to move out to the country and live in peace.

"All we want is to have peace in our last few days on Earth," he said.

McCarson also noted that the neighbors don't want trash or the threat to lives or property that he alleged could be caused by the event.

"Would anybody at that table be happy to have it in their backyard?" he asked the commissioners and media assembled at the board table.

McCarson noted that in the past, the county blocked his son from obtaining a permit to build a double-wide in the area.

Walter said that the proposed location for the trailer was in a floodplain and was blocked due to EPA rules. He stated that approving the permit would have caused problems with the county's flood insurance.

Jeanelle Dimon, another property owner, said the area in question "looks like a junkyard" and noted that there are no lights in the shed Horrorland wants to use, meaning a generator will have to be used.

Bang said lights would be run off a 9-volt or 12-volt battery system, but a generator would be used for the sound system.

"It was never my intention to sneak or surprise anyone with the relocation of the event," Umbdenstock said.

Board Chairman Marc Kiehna asked Walter if anyone at the zoning board hearing spoke in favor of the move.

"There was no one there in favor of it," he said.

Umbdenstock noted she was unaware of any problems with Horrorland until shortly before the zoning meeting.

"This event has been accepted in the past, for which I was thankful," she said.

After the board announced its vote, White advised Umbdenstock and Bang to seek out a more suitable location.

In other news, the commissioners approved a proclamation designating September 1, 2016 as Randolph County Retired Teachers' Day.

The proclamation states that 51 members of the Randolph County Retired Teachers Association had given 12,486 hours of voluntary service in Randolph County for the 2015-16 school year.

Emily Lyons, one of the RCRTA members present for the signing, said the former teachers volunteer at nursing homes, school events, community events, churches, with historical organizations and food programs, among other services.

Finally, the commissioners received another update from Honeywell business consultant Kevin Bollman on the renovations to the Randolph County Courthouse.

Bollman noted that installation of the new courthouse roof was to start this week, which will affect traffic flow - both vehicle and pedestrian - for three weeks.

"We intend to close off the road and rear entrance of the building," he said.

Bollman noted that all traffic will come through the front doors of the courthouse and there will be noise and some odor during welding of material.

Bollman said the first change order to the project will include roof rails for chilled water piping on the roof of the Randolph County Jail, replacement of two electrical switchgear components and replacement of a chilled water piping section that was discussed during the board's previous meeting.

The commissioners agreed to set a limit on the change orders not to exceed $30,000. Kiehna asked Bollman for a financial progress report at the next meeting so the board can keep track of what it is paying out.

Roundup

• The commissioners appointed Derek Klein to the Kaskaskia Island Levee and Drainage District, a three-year term expiring the first Tuesday of September in 2019. Klein replaces Michael Colbert, who resigned.

• The commissioners appointed Red Bud Fire Chief Kevin Miller to the Randolph County E-911 Emergency Telephone System Board, which fills a vacancy expiring July 1, 2019.

• General assistance claims for the period were $1,337.94.

• The Randolph County Care Center was reported to have 64 residents.

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