Hunter
07/18/25
Hawkeye Waste Systems was denied a continuance this week to keep operating past Friday despite not having Worker’s Compensation insurance.
That fact came to light last year when an employee was crushed by a skid loader and died.
The Johnson County Attorney’s office has charged executives at Hawkeye Waste with failure to maintain worker’s compensation insurance, a Class D Felony, and requested a temporary injunction to shut down the business. Wednesday, during a hearing about the injunction, a lawyer for Hawkeye Waste Systems said they still don’t have the required insurance, but the owner has applied for it. He asked for a continuance allowing the business to operate for another 15 days until it has proof of insurance. He claimed they needed time to notify their customers and asked what harm there would be in giving them the additional time.
Johnson County Attorney Rachel Zimmerman Smith said the harm would be putting their employees at risk in the event of an accident, since they wouldn’t be covered by worker’s compensation.
Sixth Judicial District Judge Kevin McKeever denied the continuance and ordered Hawkeye Waste Systems and affiliated companies to produce proof of worker’s comp insurance by the end of business on Friday.