Letter to the Standard's Editor

To the Editor:

After numerous articles and notices regarding the misuse of the facility at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds, I was very surprised to see the flagrant dumping, primarily in the area of the “burning pile”. It was my first trip to the area this spring, and I had hoped that the past problems would have been resolved.

I came home after depositing some branches and accumulated leaves and told my wife that we were in danger of losing the very convenient facility for yard waste. I saw a mattress, blue plastic venetian blinds, 15-20 black plastic bags, several metal objects along with various other items that have been banned. All of the above were tossed into the center area of the burning pile, obviously by somebody hoping that they wouldn’t be noticed, at least until they left the area!

On my second trip to the site the next day, I was emptying several plastic bags of leaves, when another car pulled in to the burning pile. The first thing I noticed was his license plate. It was a custom plate in the colors of the University of Iowa, and it had his last name on the plate! He did not stay long, just long enough to throw several plastic bags into the burning pile!

I remember a trip I made to the area in the fall about two years ago. Two men were throwing items into the burning pile which was blazing at the time, and I mentioned to the subjects that the things they were depositing were prohibited. They said they were told it was OK by a member of the Fair Board! How do you win?

In order for Waukon residents to keep this valuable facility available, the city fathers are going to have to bite the bullet and control access, with someone on site during the day. This person should be armed with a camera and a notebook, taking photos and making notes of those who would violate the rules. You can talk all you want about fines, whether it be $50 or $500, but if you don’t back it up with evidence and follow through on prosecution before the judge, you are wasting your time!

The time has come to embarrass some of our citizens and make them pay the piper!

Bob Oden, Waukon