Sumner City Council attempted to continue discussion of amendments to the comprehensive plan tabled from the April 5 meeting, but discussion focused mostly on an ordinance passed in October 2009.

That ordinance designated a portion of Sumner as a Manufacturing and Industrial Center (MIC), which proponents of say will allow Sumner to receive more funds which would pay for road improvements.

Amendments specify the allowable types and locations of retail business and types of indoor commercial recreation allowed. Amendments also add specific definitions of noxious chemical plants, which are already banned, definitions of air separation facilities and regulations stating where pharmaceutical plants could be located.

Discussion on the issue became heated soon into Community Development Director Paul Rogerson’s presentation on the MIC. Even though discussion was to be about amendments, Rogerson said it was important to educate the public on the facts of the MIC because a lot of misinformation was circulating.

Several citizens used their opportunity to speak about what they felt was a decision which would cause Sumner to look like a major industrial area rather than the charming, small town its residents love.

Because several speakers said they were not sufficiently informed on the MIC matter, council tabled the amendments until the meeting of May 17 and scheduled a special meeting at City Hall May 15 at 9 a.m. during which the public is invited to attend an informational session on the issue.