by Dennis Dalman
In the near future, access to the Sartell compost site will be possible by customers scanning their compost permits, which will then automatically open gates to the site.
For years, attendants had to be on site to allow for entrance by vehicles. The new automatic method, approved by the city council July 11, will not require attendants. It will also allow the city great flexibility in when the site is open.
Sartell will spend a one-time cost of $25,000 to have the gates and computerized equipment installed by Parkonect, a company based in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Fiber lines will have to be extended to the compost site in order for the gates to work. The equipment will make possible a monitoring security system with camera surveillance that can be viewed from city hall.
The system will likely be installed and ready to go before the end of this year.
