HomeMy WebLinkAboutA006 - Letter from Dayton Heins - concerns about ordinance Ames City Council
Ames City Managers office
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515 Clark
Ames IA, 5001 -,n 17
FOEC 31991
Dayton HeinsCITV CLERK
4O4 Garden Rd.
Ames IA, 50010
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When we recieved the draft of proposed changes to the solid �
waste ordinance from Bob Kindred at the City uffice
we had some concerns. I delivered a letter to the City
Managers office with some of our concerns. Apparently this
letter was recieved by him. I talked with Steve Shanker to
clarify our concerns. I notice that some effort was made at
the meeting in response to our ideas. Why wasn ' t this
carried through.
I wish to have a practical policy in place so that yard |
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wastes can be dealt with on a neighborhood basis as much as
is possible. I feel that the draft we recieved does not
mention all of the options for neighborhood efforts.
The basis of the ordinance seems to be the IDNR regulations.
WhiIe these are practical for farm fields think-, I do not ti it
will work for backyard composting. Leaf cover can be placed
on a garden but is often less than the garden will use
during the year. A compost pile is a good way to store and
to establish microbes. Kitchen waste such as peelings that �
would overload the sewage system can be dealt with more
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easily in a compost pile. I know that the City has promoted
composting , this should continue. A well managed compost
has no problems.
One thing requested in the review was whether 72 hours was
enough time for storage. While this may work , 7 days may be
a more realistic time frame. Factors such as weather , time
restraints and volume can delay final placement of leaves.
Because of this storage may need to be defined. When leaves
are given access to air , water , and microbes they are no
longer in storage.
With so many in and near Ames using leaves in gardening some
concensus on guidlines for a good compost should be in place
and available to anyone interested. This would minimise the
Citys need to regulate so employees could concentrate on
more pressing concerns.
I feel that since the ' 91 season is past there is ample time
to write a practical policy.
Dayton Heins