Norwalk threatened with fines after illegal trash burning

By KAREN PARKER | County Line Editor

Burning trash left at the compost pile at the Norwalk sewer plant will be a costly error for village taxpayers.

The village board learned at its Tuesday meeting that although DNR had warned the village not to burn, Norwalk residents had continued to dump trash there, and maintenance staff would set it on fire.

Now, if Norwalk wishes to maintain a compost heap, the village must fence off an area or risk incurring up to a $25,000 fine. Fencing and gates will cost about $2,500.

Residents will no longer be allowed to take items to the area. Instead, they will be picked up curbside. Clerk Sharon Karis noted that items must be separated into green and brown compost, and tree branches will need to be trimmed to a certain size.

Semi parking will be eliminated

The change also likely means there will be no parking for semi trucks at the sewer plant. Resident Butch Johnson told the board that the parking dates back to a settlement reached between the village and the Johnsons, who had launched a lawsuit because there had been no semi parking allowed in the village.

Two board members who had served at that time and the village clerk denied the allegation. They recalled there was no pressure from lawsuit, but that the board was simply finding a place for parking after banning it from the residential area.

It remains unknown what accommodation will be made if the compost area crowds out the trucks at the sewer plant.

Other business

• A new library is in the works according to library board member Doug Gnewikow. Plans have been drawn by Brickl Brothers for a 30.5-by-32-foot addition, the size of the current library. The library has about $39,000 on hand, Gnewikow said, and he hoped the project would be completed for $50,000. The board gave permission to remove two trees that would be in the way.

• The village now has received title to the Ryan property from Monroe County. Bids will be sought to demolish the house, which partially burned two years ago.

• The board approved fencing at the ball diamond/volleyball court for $2,500.

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