(Spirit Lake)– A problem with non-city residents dropping off brush at the city’s drop-off site near the public works building is drawing the ire of Spirit Lake city officials.
They say the free drop-off site was originally intended as a convenience for city residents. But now, they say people, landscaping and tree trimming companies from outside of the city are dumping large quantities of branches there. They say it’s due to the fact the county’s landscape disposal site near Milford is gated and is only open during certain hours. A fee is also charged at that site.
The issue was brought up at Tuesday’s Spirit Lake city council meeting by councilman Kevin Bice, who said the dumping by out-of-town citizens and companies is getting out of hand.
Councilman Clyde Ihrke suggested the city work with the county to come up a joint drop-off facility.
While no immediate solution was offered at Tuesday’s meeting, City Administrator Mark Stevens said city staff is working on a recommendation that will come before the council in the near future.
Meanwhile, city officials say the brush piles get so big at the drop-off site by the end of weekends that on some Monday mornings city crews can’t open the doors to the maintenance building without first having to move the piles.
