Home Local News SGT. BLUFF MAN FINED $80,000 FOR BURNING RAILROAD TIES

SGT. BLUFF MAN FINED $80,000 FOR BURNING RAILROAD TIES

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A SERGEANT BLUFF MAN HAS BEEN ORDERED TO PAY AN $80,000 PENALTY, THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED BY LAW, FOR BURNING THOUSANDS OF RAILROAD TIES ON HIS PROPERTY OVER FOUR DAYS IN AUGUST OF 2018.

JOHN GOLDSMITH WAS ALSO GIVEN A PERMANENT INJUNCTION FROM VIOLATING SOLID-WASTE AND OPEN-BURNING LAWS.

JUDGE DUANE HOFFMEYER WARNED GOLDSMITH THAT HE COULD FACE CONTEMPT CHARGES AND POSSIBLY JAIL TIME IF HE DISOBEYS THE ORDER.

THE IOWA D-N-R HAD ISSUED SEVERAL NOTICES OF VIOLATIONS TO GOLDSMITH SINCE 2000.

ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT, GOLDSMITH HAD AN ESTIMATED 30,000 RAILROAD TIES ON HIS PROPERTY.

GOLDSMITH ALSO SAID THAT HE HAD BARRICADED HIS PROPERTY TO PREVENT LOCAL AUTHORITIES FROM GETTING ON SITE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, REPRESENTED BY THE IOWA ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE, SUED GOLDSMITH IN 2020.