Hunter
08/14/25
An eastern Iowa company that does business in the Iowa City area says it has purchased the required worker’s compensation insurance and is on track to avoid a ban on conducting business here.
The Press-Citizen reports the Johnson County Attorney’s Office requested an injunction against Hawkeye Waste Systems, Inc., a local waste management company, in May. Workers’ compensation insurance is required for most businesses under Iowa law.
Johnson County attorney Rachel Zimmermann-Smith wrote in a court filing that the company indicated it had purchased the insurance and it would go into effect on July 11.
The lack of insurance was discovered when OSHA and the Iowa Division of Worker’s Compensation investigated Hawkeye Waste Systems after an employee reportedly died on the jobsite in an incident reportedly involving a skid loader. The employee died in November 2024.
Hawkeye Waste Systems, select corporate officers and employees were charged in April with a felony for failing to maintain worker’s compensation insurance.
Documents filed on July 29th indicate a temporary agreement between Hawkeye Waste and the County will stand as long as insurance coverage is maintained. Judge Kevin McKeever set a hearing for January to verify coverage is still active and will consider dismissing the case against Hawkeye Waste if conditions are met.