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Piles of spoiled grain, ag lime removed from Hardwick elevator site

Lead Summary
,
By
Mavis Fodness

Piles of what looked like dirt and sand at Mouw Feed and Grain in Hardwick were removed last week along with an odor that had prompted resident complaints in recent months.
Those piles, however, were not all dirt and sand but spilled grain mixed with ag lime from last fall’s harvest.
Twenty-seven semitrailer loads of rotting corn, soybeans and other debris were removed from the Hardwick elevator site. Crews finished with the cleanup on Thursday, June 9.
On June 2 Environmental Health Manager Jason Kloss with Southwestern Health and Human Services, Marshall, visited Mouw’s Hardwick facility after city officials reported a foul odor coming from the elevator site.
“Even though the odor wasn’t terrible, there was still an odor,” Kloss said.
While the odor complaint may have brought Kloss to the Hardwick facility initially, he said the spilled grain was a public health hazard because it would attract rodents. The odor wasn’t deemed a health hazard.
Kloss said he didn’t issue a formal written order for the grain and ag lime cleanup because elevator officials had plans for the removal already in place. They were waiting for the materials to dry before disturbing the piles.
Kloss said a written order would have given Mouw’s 10 days to clean up the spillage. After that time Kloss would arrange to have the cleanup done and expense charged to the elevator.
“If they could do it themselves, that’s a better option,” Kloss said.
Mike Mouw with Mouw’s Feed and Grain based in Leota said Kloss’ June 2 visit was the first he and his Hardwick personnel were made aware of the odor problem.
He said it is common for elevators to pile grain on the ground during the harvest season. Once the entire crop is in, they immediately remove the grain to prevent spoilage.
To prepare the ground where the grain would be temporarily stored, ag lime is first laid to give the grain a solid storage base.
However, the ag lime used last fall in Hardwick failed to harden for an adequate base for the grain and was scraped to the side. As grain is picked up in the fall, it is common for spills to occur and get cleaned up in the spring.
Hardwick city officials called Kloss when residents’ previous inquiries as to when the spills would be cleaned didn’t result in action from the elevator owners.
Hardwick City Clerk Tammy Johnson said residents complained about the periodic smell as far back as April.
Miles Brown, the Hardwick elevator site manager, said casual conversations did take place between elevator personnel and Hardwick residents earlier this year.
He explained the continued rain showers prevented the removal of the ag lime mixed with grain piles. The most recent showers broke the crust on the piles, releasing the fermenting grain odors.
A report was made to the Rock County Sheriff’s Office May 29 about the spilled grain. The incident was printed in the “On the Record” dispatch report from the sheriff’s office in the June 9 Star Herald.
In the report the caller “reported the rotten corn at the elevator in Hardwick is toxic and needs to be removed because it is going to kill someone.”
The dispatcher advised the caller to contact the Hardwick city officials.

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