Dear Editor:

Tonight, July 1, Rushville's Common Council passed the first two readings of Ordinance 2008-5 by a vote of 3:2. Ordinance 2008-5 would eliminate the current requirement that three members of the Historic Board of Review be chosen from among owners of property within the District.

Under the proposed amendment, it becomes possible for the Historic Board to be comprised entirely of people who live outside the District.

The current requirement is in the ordinance to ensure that those making decisions affecting property within the District must abide by the same standards they set for others. It is protection for property owners within the District against the potential for a Board with no incentive for restraint.

The third and final reading should take place at the next Common Council meeting, scheduled for July 15 at 6 p.m.

If you live or own property in the Historic District (or even if you don't), and believe that District residents should not be deprived of guaranteed representation on the Historic Board, I urge you to express your opinion to your Council representative before the meeting, and to attend the meeting so that you can express it to the Council as a whole. The more the merrier!  

Jim Huston

Chairman, Rushville Historic Board

Rushville