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Residents press council over grain dust and noise; council approves dust-control measure
Summary
Residents urged the Onida City Council to address grain dust and debris from local elevators, particularly activity around CHS; council members discussed mitigation (berms, grass buffers, mag water) and approved a dust-control bill after hearing resident complaints and a decibel test showing 64.1 dB (below the city'9s 65 dB limit).
The Onida City Council on a regular agenda item heard extended public comment about dust, debris and noise from grain handling operations and approved a dust-control measure the council said would address a problem affecting homes near the elevators.
A council member reported a March 3 decibel test taken at a stop sign near a complaining house that showed a maximum reading of 64.1 decibels; the council member noted the city's ordinance caps sound at 65 dB and said, without documentation that interior noise exceeds that limit, the city's options are limited. "The maximum decibel was 64.1," the council member said, adding that interior measurements would be needed to trigger enforcement under the ordinance.
Why it matters: residents said the dust and fine particulate have become worse as local agriculture shifted from small grain to corn and beans, increasing truck traffic and dryer activity; they said dust settles on homes and outdoor spaces. That, they argued, reduces livability and could affect property values.
During public comments a longtime resident described repeated frustrations with dust and debris near her home and recounted a phone conversation she said she had with Stephanie Bratik, regional manager for CHS. The resident said CHS had shown photos of on-site mitigations in other towns and suggested berms, trees and grass buffers as partial remedies. "I'm just very frustrated," the resident said, recounting that material from augers and trucks settles on nearby yards and porches.
Council members and staff discussed mitigation options and practical constraints. Several members said mag (magnesium) water treatments help suppress dust when applied at proper rates and noted that mag water alone provides only temporary relief if there is no stable gravel base to hold the treatment. "If you don't have some gravel there to absorb that mag water, it's just going to get worse," a council member said, urging a combination of gravel placement and mag water in problem locations.
The council acknowledged that many grain bins are sited just outside city limits and that building permits for new agricultural structures in the county are not fully within city control. Still, members said the city can press CHS and local farmers to adopt measures when activity affects Onida properties and can require mitigation for projects inside city limits.
Action taken: the council moved to approve the dust-control bill the members had discussed. The motion was seconded and carried on a roll call.
What's next: council members said they will continue conversations with CHS and local farmers about berms, grass buffers and improved mag-water application, and review building-permit requests that come before the city. Residents were directed to provide interior noise documentation if they believe levels exceed the ordinance so staff can pursue enforcement. The ordinance and implementation details will be handled in follow-up meetings and in coordination with any affected landowners and operators.
Authorities referenced: the council cited the city noise ordinance (maximum 65 dB) during the discussion.
Ending: The measure passed after the public-comment period concluded; council members said they will keep residents informed of follow-up discussions with CHS and any mitigation steps the company or local farmers agree to take.
