SIBLEY, Iowa (AP) — Officials say all the hogs packed into a trailer were killed in a rollover crash north of Sibley on Iowa Highway 9. The Osceola County Sheriff tells the Sioux City Journal that the crash happened Tuesday when the semi’s 26-year-old driver swerved to try to avoid a cow in the road. The semi tipped, landing partially in a ditch. The driver was taken to a local hospital with injuries.

Officials say all the pigs were killed — a loss estimated at $30,000. The semi and trailer, estimated at $145,000, were destroyed. Deputies say the cow, owned by a Sibley farmer, also was killed.

A public hearing is set to take place this Tuesday evening (Sept. 13th) in Atlantic, with regard to proposed changes to the City’s current Zoning Ordinance. The Planning and Zoning Commission meeting and public hearing begins at 5:30-p.m. in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. Following the hearing, the Commission is expected to act on approving the Ordinance changes.

City Administrator John Lund says the last major update to the Zoning Ordinance happened 21-years ago, on June 7th, 1995. In the updated Ordinance, four new chapters have been added: Wireless Communication Facilities, Solar Energy Systems, Wind Energy Systems and Landscaping and Screening Standards. Lund says those four chapters represent the biggest developments in zoning issues since the Ordinance was last updated.

Definitions were also greatly expanded he says, to provide a solid footing in which to execute and enforce our regulations with transparency. Where ambiguity exists, there are openings for selective administrative application. Four new sections were also added: Compliance with State and Federal Regulations; Severability Provision; Consistency with the Comprehensive Plan; and Publication. A time limit on the effectiveness of building permits was placed in the Ordinance, “To prevent semi-completed construction projects for existing in perpetuity,” according to Lund.

Among the changes, in Article 1 “General Provisions,” a time limit was placed on the effectiveness of building permits to prevent semi-completed construction projects for existing in perpetuity.

In Article 4, “R-1 Residential/Agriculture/Open Space,” the two biggest changes to the agricultural zone was the expansion on regulations for commercial feedlots and an elimination of setbacks and lot size. Another minor change was the removal of the words “non-commercial” regarding allowed stables as an accessory use. Single family homes are now a specified permitted use. Single family homes are now a specified permitted use.

In Article 6, the “R-3 High Density Single Family Residential District,” ordinance proposes setbacks for the district be variable, pending a conditional use permit by the Board of Adjustment. Also, the street side yard was reduced from 25 feet to 14 feet for corner lots.

A portion of Article 18 pertaining to “Non-conforming Uses” was stricken and replaced, because Lund says he recently found two instances where the existing ordinance prevents interested buyers in a property from securing a mortgage or insurance. In the final draft of this document, that section has been removed. It was replaced by a section saying “Residential properties in industrial zones shall not be considered nonconforming uses and may be completely rebuilt if destroyed.”

Article 21, which pertains to Signs has been changed to remove section limiting the time in which political signs can be posted had been stuck. Lund says in 1994, the Supreme Court ruled such ordinances were unconstitutional. In reviewing other cases and precedent, Lund “Outside of outright pornography, it appears cities have very little power to control the actual content of signage.”

In Article 23 of the proposed ordinance, (Exceptions and Modifications) the only change was to expand exceptions for  R-3 district to make them more flexible for existing homes. The Article now says “In the R-3 zone, expansion may be allowed on buildings and structures not in conformance to the yard requirements and setbacks, provided a written and signed document is provided by the building permit applicant from the affected abutting property owner.”

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A PDF of Lund’s Executive Summary of the changes can be downloaded here:

Executive Summary of Changes to the Zoning Ordinance

You can download a copy of the final Zoning Ordinance Draft (PDF form) here :

FINAL ZONING ORDINANCE DRAFT 09-08-2016

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office arrested two individuals following a vehicle pursuit late Friday night.

At 10:22pm the Montgomery County Communications Center received a call from Adams County advising they had two deputies in pursuit of a 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix westbound on Highway 34.  Once at Highway 34 and Highway 71 a Montgomery County Deputy placed stop-sticks in the roadway in which the vehicle struck.  That caused the left front tire to go down but the driver continued on reaching speeds of 90mph while driving on the rim.  The vehicle attempted to run a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office vehicle off the roadway and was taking other motorists head on in the wrong lane.  Montgomery County Deputies then performed a pit manuever at Highway 34 and 200th Street causing the vehicle to finally come to rest in the north ditch.  All occupants of the vehicle were detained at that time.

As a result of the incident deputies arrested 20-year-old Abel Vasquez of Lenox for Eluding, OWI Drugged 1st Offense, Driving While Suspended, Speeding, as well as warrants out of Taylor County for two counts of 3rd Degree Burglary, 2nd Degree Theft, and Possession of Marijuana.  Also arrested was 21-year-old Kami Lynn Hilton of Creston for Possession of Marijuana.

No damage was done to the patrol vehicle used in the pit manuever or the defendant’s vehicle.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Montgomery County K-9 unit, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Red Oak Police Department, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Iowa State Patrol.