Concerned resident addresses malicious chipmunks with Conrad council

A Conrad man came to the city council to ask for assistance with his ongoing battle against invasive rodents (and subsequent interactions with Grundy County law enforcement), but the dispute remained unresolved when he left the chambers at last Thursday night’s regular meeting.
           
Everett Manship, a retired Marshalltown firefighter who lives near the swimming pool on the north side of town, told the council that chipmunks have been surrounding his home and gnawing through the walls, and to address the problem, he began shooting them with a pellet gun.
           
“This year is the worst I’ve seen. It’s like rats,” he said. “I love nature as much as the next guy, but if something’s destroying my property, I’m going to kill it.”
           
The sheriff’s office, however, informed Manship that discharging weapons—including pellet guns—is expressly forbidden within the city limits, and he received a cease and desist order. Citing the financial hardship and his own personal history as a longtime gun owner, Manship asked the council to issue him an annual permit to use the device.
           
“Each time (the chipmunks) bore a hole, that’s costing me 30 some dollars… I’m here to tell you that I’m a responsible adult. I’ve been around firearms and pellet rifles almost my entire life. I didn’t shoot anything unless I had a clear path,” he said. “I’m not some crazy kid going around shooting out people’s windows or streetlights.”
           
Mayor Jeff Martin responded that because state code dictates the law on firearms restrictions within municipal boundaries, the city council would be unlikely to take any action contradicting those regulations. Traps and pest control were recommended as alternative remedies to the problem.
           
“There’s nothing at this time we can do regarding your request. We go up to Grundy County and the state of Iowa,” Councilman John Dinsmore said.
           
When reached for comment, Grundy County Sheriff Rick Penning indicated that his department would continue to enforce the laws as written. 
 
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