Prior Lake and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community will team on a compost operation on tribal land near county roads 42 and 83.

The tribe has operated the compost site since 2005, but use of the site has been at “less than capacity,” said Danette Walthers-Moore, the city’s community development and natural resources director.

Starting in May, residents can bring leaves, branches, grass clippings and plant material to the site on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month (from May to October). The compost site will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The city will provide staff twice per month to control traffic, manage the gate and oversee chipping operations. The city also will provide a chipper for use at the site during those Saturday collection times. The tribe will maintain the compost material, turning compost stacks and maintaining moisture and heat levels. Also, the tribe will introduce food waste to the site, which, combined with leaves and branches, will create optimum conditions for the natural breakdown of materials, Walthers-Moore said.

Both the city and the tribe will use the resulting compost and woodchips on their properties. In the future, residents also will be able to pick up compost and woodchips.

-- Lori Carlson