MUSCATINE, Iowa — Muscatine County Supervisor Kas Kelly doesn’t object to hunting, as long as it remains a fair sport for man and beast.

The subject of stocked hunting grounds was discussed by Kelly and her fellow supervisors during a Monday night meeting after county zoning administrator Jeremy Underwood said a Muscatine County resident would like to develop and operate a hunting lodge in an agricultural zone.

In order to allow the establishment of the lodge, the Supervisors would need to define lodges and preserves in the county code and add an amendment which deems them as special use structures in agricultural districts.

The proposed amendment to the ordinance describes a hunting lodge as a property where hunters pay a fee to hunt during the Iowa DNR hunting season. A hunting preserve is a facility where game animals are kept for the purpose of hunting for a fee over an extended season as regulated by Iowa code.

Kelly said she has nothing against hunting but she would not approve of a recreational facility that features “canned” hunting, or stocking fowls and mammals in a small area, making them easy targets.

Supervisors Dave Watkins and Tom Furlong said they are concerned about hunters shooting in proximity to farming operations.

The Supervisors decided not to vote on this amendment Monday night and asked Underwood to provide more information and clarification on the ramifications of the amendment at a future meeting.

Clarifying codes

The Supervisors did agree to add two clarifications to the county code.

The supervisors unanimously approved adding  concise definition of “substantial” flood damage to a home or structure.

Following 2008’s major flooding, Underwood said his staff learned flood victims can get more financial assistance from the National Flood Insurance Program when flood damage is assessed correctly.

In order to provide a more accurate assessment, Underwood asked the supervisors to amend the flood plain management ordinance to include the description of “substantial” damage by flooding.

Underwood said substantial damage has occurred when the cost to repair a structure is equal to at least half its market value.

Substantial damage can also describe flood-related damage that has been sustained by a structure on two separate occasions over the span of a decade with overall costs to make repairs equaling 50 percent or more of the structure’s value.

Area residents who experience substantial damage to their property after this year will be eligible for National Flood Insurance benefits related to substantial damage said Underwood. The substantial damage provision cannot be applied to damages incurred in past flooding.

Underwood said the National Flood Insurance Program mandates that flood-damaged structures that qualify for benefits must be altered to minimize damage by future flooding. For example, structures damaged by floods must be elevated in order for the property owner to receive future claims.

The Supervisors also unanimously approved Underwood’s request to describe a motor vehicle sales lot as a place of business where vehicles that must be registered to be operated are sold, traded or purchased.

The need for clarification following recent complaints regarding nuisance vehicles and the sale of motor vehicles on private property, said Underwood.

Some people have been leaving five or more vehicles set on their property for days and even months, said Underwood. Sometimes the vehicles have even been in a right-of-way, which creates a safety issue.

When the zoning staff  began addressing the complaints, they learned the sale of motor vehicles is restricted to commercial zoning districts, but the ordinance does not contain a definition of motor vehicle sales lots.

Underwood said the clarification is an effort to prevent people from setting up what appear to be small car sale operations in a non commercial zone.

Residents who place a “for sale” sign on a personal vehicle on their property are not violating the code, said Underwood.