West Fargo's Sheyenne Disposal has cleaned itself back into compliance with the city, but the waste handler was back in court Wednesday on another complaint.
An attorney for the business pleaded not guilty in Cass County District Court to violating West Fargo's sanitary nuisance ordinance May 23. The company has asked for a jury trial and is scheduled for another hearing Sept. 20.
West Fargo Police Chief Arland Rasmussen signed the complaint that initiated the misdemeanor charge. He said he took the action when he saw not enough was being done to clean the mess that got Sheyenne Disposal fined $500 in April.
But even with that case pending, Rasmussen said company president Mark Thelen has done a commendable job improving his site since last month.
"It's a lot better than it was," Rasmussen said. "But is it to what it should be and what the public thinks it should look like? No."
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Thelen, whose business also has unresolved issues with the state Health Department, pleaded guilty in April in municipal court to two violations of allowing garbage to pile up at the transfer station at 1620 W. Main Ave.
Thelen and his attorney, Craig Richie, said then that the garbage wasn't the company's fault. They blamed it on an ice storm that made cleaning difficult.
State health officials have accused the business over the past two years of poor facility upkeep, piling waste outside and moving improper waste.
Sheyenne Disposal's hearing on the Health Department complaint is set for July 20-21 in Fargo. The result could be fines or a permit revocation.
Thelen said he got a letter from police early this month telling him he was in compliance with city code. He said the cleaning delay was caused by a neighbor who improperly dumped water onto Sheyenne Disposal property.
Steve Tillotson, acting director of waste management for the Health Department, said he spoke with Thelen last week and visited his site.
"I'd agree the litter has improved," Tillotson said. "I didn't see gross amounts of waste outside the building."
But Thelen still has work to do, and much of it will require an expensive investment to repair the facility, Tillotson said.
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"It still has a ways to go," he said.
Thelen wouldn't comment on the Health Department complaint or Tillotson's comments.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Dave Forster at (701) 241-5538
