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Supervisors direct staff to pursue public hearings to amend park ATV rules and camping limits in county ordinances
Summary
The conservation board asked the supervisors to remove the word "park" from a section that listed unlawful places for ATV/UTV operation; the board also approved moving forward on amendments that remove a two-week camping cap and update a state administrative code citation.
Kossuth County supervisors on Feb. 27 voted unanimously to direct county staff to work with the county attorney to prepare ordinance amendments and public hearings after the county conservation board asked for changes to existing park rules and to camping limits.
The conservation board requested that the county remove the word "park" from a clause listing unlawful ATV/UTV operation locations within county-owned land, arguing state parks and county roadways already allow UTV/ATV operations on roadways and the county ordinance created confusion. Kendall (identified as a conservation representative) explained the request and told supervisors the change would clarify that ATVs/UTVs staying on posted roadways would be consistent with state and county road rules. Kendall said any amendment would still require posting of rules at park entrances and compliance with regulations.
In a separate request the conservation board asked to strike a phrase that set a maximum two-week camping period in county parks (originally adopted in 2004). Kendall told supervisors the county already operates seasonal and special-period camping that allow longer stays, and that the ordinance language contradicts current park practices. The proposed edit would leave camping length to be defined by the board for each park rather than imposing a default two-week cap.
Kendall and county staff also said an administrative-code citation about blinds and decoys on game-management areas referenced an outdated Iowa Administrative Code section ("571-51.5"). The conservation board asked that the citation be corrected to refer to the chapter that currently covers blinds and decoys.
Board action: Supervisors voted to direct Kendall to work with Todd, the county attorney, to prepare the formal amendment process, to set dates for public hearings and to follow required publication and three readings for ordinance amendments. After discussion the board voted unanimously to authorize staff to proceed with the county attorney on the ATV amendment and separately to set a public hearing date for the camping and administrative-code corrections. No final ordinance amendments were adopted at the Feb. 27 meeting; the actions were limited to directing staff to prepare the required hearing notices and drafts for the three-reading ordinance process.
Ending: County staff will coordinate with the county attorney and publish legal notices as required. Supervisors indicated they will hold public hearings and three statutory readings before taking final votes on the ordinance changes.
