(A) Purpose. The procedures in this section shall be used by the county for the adoption and amendment of ordinances in the county.
(B) Two considerations before final passage.
(1) A proposed ordinance must be considered and voted on for passage at two regular meetings of the Board of Supervisors.
(2) The title of the proposed ordinance shall be published at least 15 days prior to its first consideration. Copies of the full text of the ordinance will be made available at the time of publication where copies may be obtained. A copy of the proposed ordinance shall also be posted in a prominent place in the courthouse for public inspection.
(3) A final publication of the title of the ordinance shall be published at least 15 days before the meeting for final consideration of the ordinance.
(4) No more than ten days following the final passage of the ordinance, there will be a full and complete publication of the adopted ordinance.
(5) Note: if, when considering an ordinance, a substantial change is made by an amendment, it is suggested that the Board reprint the summary noting the change.
(C) Amendment. An amendment to an ordinance must specifically repeal the ordinance, or the section or division to be amended, and must set forth in full the ordinance, section or division as amended. If an ordinance is to be repealed or amended, the procedure will be the same as in enacting an ordinance.
(D) Majority requirement. Passage of an ordinance or an amendment to an existing ordinance requires an affirmative vote or not less than a simple majority of the entire Board of Supervisors. Each Board member’s vote on an ordinance must be recorded in the Board’s official minutes.
(E) Effective date. Upon final passage of an ordinance or an amendment to an existing ordinance and the signatures of a simple majority of the entire Board of Supervisors, the ordinance or amendment will become effective upon publication, unless a subsequent effective date is provided within the measure.
(F) Severability clause. If some parts of this section or subsequent ordinances are found to be inconsistent or in conflict with state and/or legal principles, those parts shall not invalidate the remainder of the ordinance.
(G) Definitions. The use of all words in this section and subsequent ordinances shall be determined by the definitions provided in Iowa Code Chapter 4, unless otherwise provided in this section.
(H) Maintenance and publication of ordinances.
(1) In accordance with the provisions of this section, the County Auditor shall cause all ordinances, amendments or summaries thereof to be published in at least one newspaper having general circulation in the county.
(2) Final copies of any ordinance or amended ordinances shall be recorded by the County Recorder and made available to the public upon request.
(3) All adopted and amended ordinances shall be printed or otherwise reproduced for adequate distribution.
(I) County ordinance book. All adopted ordinances and amended ordinances shall be maintained in a separate book known as “Guthrie County Ordinance Book”. The book shall be maintained in the office of the County Auditor.
(Ord. passed 8-7-1980)