SW Iowa work trip

I tried out my new camera on our work trip through Southwest Iowa Tuesday. It was my usual trip crew of Jim and Scott, but this time Angie came with us. Angie is our Bureau Chief Brian's Administrative Assistant (she's got some other official sounding title) - she's smart and proficient at many things around the office. She's worked at DNR since college (she's closing in on all of 30 now...) and is really good at getting stuff done. She's married with 2 young boys and lives in rural Monroe (where she grew up) - east of DSM.

Tim in red talking to Jim, Angie and Scott in Kellerton

Throughout her DNR career, Angie hasn't had a chance to get out of the office much, so this year Brian suggested she go along with staff members as they go out in the field. That way when she takes minutes at meetings describing staff activities, she'll have a better idea what she's writing about. Angie was a nice addition to our travel party.

Our first stop was Kellerton where we visited Divine Waste, a trash hauling company that is starting up a curbside recycling program in rural Iowa. Tim, the owner has purchased the carts and is getting the building ready to install a baler. (It's a machine that smashes the materials together into nice big cubes to sell). Tim's plan is to sort material and bale it, then market it in various locations - paper, plastic and metal. Tim's a big dreamer and talker - I am hopeful he can show others how a small hauler can make this model work.

I couldn't resist - had to stop on our way out of town, snapping this shot of Neon Jesus and the bike sculpture across the street - East Village DSM has nothing on Kellerton!

After Kellerton, we headed back east on Highway 2 to the Wayne, Ringgold, Decatur (WRD) Landfill located just south of Grand River. Doug, the all-around guy there filled us in on what was going on. We talked to him about shingle recycling - working with roofers to deliver them to a separate area where they can be recycled into asphalt. It's been very successful in other areas - especially when oil prices are high.

Doug shows DNR staff a product used to "cover" at night - it's mixed with water and sprayed on trash at closing time.

Next we were off to Clarinda, home of Glenn Miller the big band guy. I spent a bit of time in this town - during my own sports career (I was an Atlantic Trojann-yes it's spelled right) and then following the kids. Amy stomped around there during her brief stint in marching band (before she figured out it would interfere with volleyball tourneys). We ate lunch on the square at a place we all thought was quite good - at least until Angie saw the guy who took our cash touch the food he was cooking. Icky! She and I had spaghetti and Jim and Scott each ordered a small pizza.

The town of Coin was our next destination. Alas the town decided they don't quite have enough of it to accept the grant they've been awarded to demolish this derelict building - the former school building. When we drove in we weren't quite sure where the building was, but in a small town like Coin we found it pretty quickly! We were greeted by a posse of small dogs running loose.

Looking for the reported ghost...just kidding. There are still some lightbulbs in the joint.

Coin is a small town with a sense of humor though..

town bar/lunch place

On mainstreet

bales of metal cans

Last we headed north to the Page County Landfill run by Myron Magwitz. I think that's a cool name. Page County received a large grant/low interest loan that helped them build a large recycling facility with a baler. They utilize low cost prison help (non violent offenders - we don't let real bad dudes around our commodities) at the facility. I talked to Myron about shingle recycling too and they filled us in about their operation. This stops are a good time to share information.

Guys in orange shirts - prison dudes

Myron in red with his assistant Mike in bibs.

Jim took Highway 71 back up to Atlantic on the way back - we went by Villisca, resisting driving into town to see the Axe Murder House. We jogged over on 6/83 through Anita and then on up to I-80 arriving back in DSM about 4:15 p.m. It was a good trip with a great team. Fun folks to travel with - providing value to our stakeholders.