City council member discusses opposition’s side to Norfork’s short-term rental controversy

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Norfork City Councilman Ian Vickery

In Wednesday’s news, we heard from Norfork Mayor Lisa Harrison discussing the passage of a short-term rental ordinance in May that has divided the town. In Thursday’s report, we hear from one of the critics of the ordinance, city council member Ian Vickery.

Vickery says a large part of the problem with the ordinance started with a planning commission meeting when most of the members were absent.

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Vickery says the issue was then brought up at the August council meeting.

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Vickery and Harry Roderick were the two voting against the measure. They were both also on the planning commission, but resigned along with the other members, leaving the commission chair as the only current member.

Vickery says at the next council meeting, he had questions he asked the mayor about the recently passed ordinance.

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Vickery says the mayor responded they were not in a courtroom and she didn’t have to answer his questions and adjourned the meeting.

Vickery says he feels the new short-term rental policy can change the dynamics of the city.

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Vickery says there has been a group of citizens trying to get enough signatures for a referendum to repeal the ordinance, saying attorneys from both sides are looking at it, but he expects the measure to be on the ballot in Norfork for the voters to decide on.

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