County passes first reading for yard waste site

After some public questioning during the May 14 Jones County Supervisor meeting, the City of Monticello is another step closer to opening its tree dump and yard waste site. 

The Board of Supervisors passed the first consideration to re-zone the 5.58 acres from residential to public. There are some conditional zoning requirements that the city plans to follow. 

During the public hearing former Animal Welfare Friends board member Kelly Day had several questions that either Monticello City Administrator Doug Herman or T&W Grinding & Compost Service (Randy Thuman) were able to answer. 

The Jones County Planning & Zoning Commission previously approved the re-zoning on a vote of 3-1. 

Day asked how often city officials would be on site to manage the property, which is located between the AWF shelter and Hog Slat. 

“We’ll be there as needed,” said Herman. “We’ll be there daily, Monday through Friday.” 

The city also plans to install security cameras to both protect and deter people from illegal dumping on the site. 

The property would also be gated with signage noting the hours and rules. 

Thuman said a yard waste site does not require constant monitoring unless the product is being sold. 

He said they are typically on site three to four times a year grinding material for mulch and compost and cleaning up the site if needed. 

“We turn the compost as weather permits so it doesn’t turn into mud,” he said. 

He said they’re typically on site for four to five hours at a time. 

In terms of the noise, Thuman said, “You’d be hard-pressed to hear much. We’re that quiet.” 

Of the complaints of odor, Thuman said they do not use food waste with their compost material. “We’ve never had any odor complaints,” he said. 

T&W travels all over the State of Iowa for their municipal customers. 

Day asked about fire protection. 

“I’ve been doing this for 15 years and have yet to have a fire,” Thuman offered. “I’ve never had an issue.” 

Through his experience, and working with his two sons in the Delhi-based business, Thuman said the public would eventually police themselves on site. 

“People police themselves because they don’t want contamination (of the compost material),” he said. 

Day questioned whether the property meets state code. 

Herman said the city has been in contact with the DNR and they had no issues. 

“They DNR certified our proposal,” he said. 

“The DNR knows us, they know what we do and how we do it,” added Thuman. “We’ve never had an issue.” 

Day also asked whether the city had a water run-off management plan so water doesn’t infiltrate neighboring properties. 

Herman said the compost would sit on the far end of the property away from the animal shelter. 

“There’s a culvert on the opposite end,” Herman explained. “There is a lot of earth to allow the water to soak in before it gets to the culvert.” 

Thuman said they do not add water to their compost material, so it shouldn’t be a huge issue. 

“We work with Mother Nature,” he said. “There could be a small amount of run-off as rain water, but this site is pretty level. There will hardly be any run-off, and it wouldn’t be toxic.” 

Thuman said they plan to keep the site looking decent so it’s not an eye sore for the city or county. 

He said Monticello residents have been coming to Dyersville and Manchester lately for compost and garden material because Monticello does not have a site. 

The supervisors had the option to waive the three considerations requirement, but Supervisor Wayne Manternach wanted to tour the site regarding the drainage issue before everything is all said and done.