A Republican State Representative who sits on the House Environmental Protection Committee admits he “did something dumb.” Representative Dell Hanson of Vinton has been charged with illegal dumping in what he calls the city “brush pile.”Hanson says it used to be the landfill “or the dump,” but for years, he says they’ve called it the “brush dump.” Hanson’s remodeling an old house, and hauled some boards, wainscoting, and old plaster out to the dump. He did put that plaster in an old steel bathtub — and he dumped that, too.Hanson says he was hauling the stuff on a flatbed trailer, and rather than having all that plaster blowing around, he put it in the bathtub. Hanson, who is an implement dealer, is also accused of dumping a muffler and some oil filters.Hanson says that muffler and oil filter were already there. Hanson says he wishes he’d gone back and taken a picture of the setting because he says he “figured” although he didn’t say what he had “figured” would happen. Hanson admits it’s embarrassing to have a member of the Environmental Protection Committee to be charged with illegal dumping. “Don’t look good, does it?” Hanson told reporters. “But this is the city dump site.” Hanson says he could have taken the trash to his own property and dumped it in his own brush pile to burn, but home was “three miles further.” Hanson says he intended to go back and pick up the bathtub.Hanson says he “got to visiting” and when he got done visiting, he hopped on his tractor and went back to town — forgetting the bathtub. Hanson won’t fight the charge — and will pay the fine. He believes the fine could be as high as $147. Hanson expects his democrat opponent to bring the issue up this fall, and Hanson says his answer to voters will be that it’s not the first time he’s “done something dumb, and it won’t be the last time, either.”
