Junk vehicles and parking ordinances updated

On Monday, the Clarion city council passed three ordinances that will allow the city to better enforce regulations on property nuisances—a long-promised change that was met with joy by some attendees of the meeting.

First, the council held the first reading of Ordinance 568 regulating junk vehicles. It repeals the older Ordinance 517 (enacted in November of 2009) and replaces Chapter 51 of the city code.

Under the new ordinance, junk vehicles are defined as any vehicle that has broken glass or parts, loose or missing parts, has become a habitat for animals or insects, is inoperable, or is in “defect or obsolete condition.” The term “vehicle” in the ordinance also includes cars, trucks, motorcycles, tractors, buggies, and farm implements. The ordinance allows the city to declare such vehicles a nuisance and have them towed and impounded at the owner’s expense if not removed within 7 days of citation. Exceptions are if the junk vehicle is enclosed in a structure or is located in a fenced, licensed salvage yard. The first reading of Ordinance 568 was approved.

Ordinance 569 will regulate parking on yards. Specifically, it will disallow anyone from parking on a front, side, or rear yard with the exception of vehicles or trailers parked temporarily, including moving vans or service trucks, or those parked for special events. (The yard does not include a driveway or an improved surface like well-maintained gravel.) Exceptions are also made during a snow ban. After some discussion, the council decided to define “temporary” in the ordinance to mean less than 48 hours.

The ordinance also allows exceptions to be made for longer than 48 hours if the owner speaks to the police department about the circumstances and receives a permit for parking. Dustin Reif, city administrator, said the city did not want to make parking difficult for those with limited space. “We’re just trying to address the nuisance properties that continually park an excessive number of vehicles across their yard,” he said. The first reading of Ordinance 569 was approved.

 

For the full story, see the March 23 edition of the Monitor.

Wright County Monitor

P.O. Box 153
Clarion, IA 50525
Phone: 515-532-2871
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