Government : Benton County Supervisors Approve Land Use Change for New Wedding Venue

At Tuesday's Supervisor meeting, Brandon and Jenica Jordan requested a land use change for Parcel E, Section 27 of the Benton Township. The couple plan to create a new location that could be used for weddings just 3 1/2 miles north of Shellsburg off of 32nd Ave.

The couple plan to make the venue large enough to hold 250 guests including a patio area outside. They also plan to plan several hundred trees as a buffer around the area to help muffle any sound or block light from the area.

Over the objection of neighboring property owners, the land change was granted with 2 of the 3 supervisors voting in favor of the change.

Several of the neighbors expressed concern about the traffic and noise on the weekends, as the couple said they hoped to have the site booked each weekend throughout the year.

They do not plan to have a kitchen or bar area in the venue so anyone renting the facility would need to bring in their own food and beverages.

Rick Primmer stated that the board had also approved another venue north of Vinton and that this would be no different. He cited that these types of venues bring income to the area and stated that the county needs to look at any possible business as a benefit to bear some of the tax load for all of the county residents. He said that he is and always has been pro-business and for development.

Gary Bierschenk opposed the move because of the opposition of the neighbors who had lived in the area and expected it to be a quiet area.

A second land use hearing was held for Larry Koster who resides in Leroy Township, near Blairstown. He currently sells firearms, but the change is necessary to meet state regulations. The change was approved.