Two city ordinances will be updated in order to comply with the Iowa Code.
Every year, the city of Osceola gets a list of ordinance amendments that are triggered from amendments by the state legislature to the Iowa Code. The city’s laws have to be in compliance with the state, thus the new changes.
This time around, there were two ordinances that had slight amendments made to them – one concerning litter and the other interference with official acts.
Litter
Currently, the city code defines litter as any garbage, rubbish, trash, refuse, waste materials or debris.
The proposed amendment from the Iowa Code would change it to any garbage, rubbish, trash, refuse, waste materials or debris not exceeding 10 pounds in weight or 15 cubic feet in volume. Litter includes, but is not limited to empty beverage containers, cigarette butts, food waste packaging, other food or candy wrappers, handbills, empty cartons or boxes.
“So, you can dump an appliance and it’s not littering, right?” asked Councilman Dr. George Fotiadis during an Aug. 16 council meeting. “I mean, technically it’s not. That’s what it says.”
Ty Wheeler, city administer/clerk, assured the council dumping of appliances would fall under another law.
“I think if the (police) chief sees you throwing a TV out your car, it’s going to be an issue,” said Mayor Tom Kedley.
Interference
As for the amendment to interference with official acts, there is one slight change – the addition of jailer.
The proposed amendment stated, “No person shall knowingly resist or obstruct anyone known by the person to be a peace officer, jailer, emergency medical care provider or firefighter, whether paid or volunteer, in the performance of any act that is within the scope of the lawful duty.”
A public hearing for the proposed amendments was approved for the next council meeting.