City committee recommends shelving private ownership of city's yard waste site

The City of Decorah's Street Committee has turned down a proposal by Marty Grimm that the city turn over the operation of its Yard Waste Site to him.  Committee members on Monday told Grimm they liked his concept of a commercial composting business, but didn't want it to take over the Yard Waste Site.

Opponents of Grimm's proposal cited their concerns about smells from spoiled food and from horse manure, as well as possible issues with mice and other rodents.

Grimm denied those issues would be a concern, telling the committee "there are many successful cases of people doing this."

But committee chair Gary Rustad said he felt "If it aint' broke, don't fix it."  He and other committee members encouraged Grimm to look for a different location for his proposed business.  Grimm told the committee, "I'll keep at it."