Confessions of the port-a-pot guys

After all, not too many people drive into Cottonwood Cove Park, hauling 20 portable toilets.

"People seem to love the slogan on the back of our big truck: 'Yesterday's Meals-on-Wheels,'" Lindblom said with a laugh. "Yeah, you gotta have a sense of humor when you're in this line of work."

Since 1969, Lindblom Services has been responsible for portable toilets, urinals and handicapped-accessible lavatories at construction sites as well as outdoor festivals like Dakota City's Cottonwood Days.

"Cottonwood Days is actually one of our smaller events," Lindblom said. "We also have the contract for such events as Saturday in the Park, River-Cade and (the outdoor concerts at) Hard Rock Hotel & Casino that keep us very busy in the summertime."

Certainly no Johnny-come-lately, Lindblom, 69, came into the latrine business strictly as a sideline.

A longtime Sioux City firefighter, he actually began pumping septic tanks for residential home.

"Back then, firefighters worked a schedule where they were on duty for 24 hours and then off for 48 hours," Lindblom remembered. "That gave me plenty of time for a second job."

Gradually, his sideline became his main job and, over time, he acquired nearly 500 portable toilets.

"It's a dirty job but somebody's gotta do it," Lindblom added.

Assistant Danny Elenz joined Lindblom Services nearly four years.

"My friends always make fun of me when they learn what I do for a living," Elenz said as he added water and deodorizing tablets to each portable toilet. "They suddenly think I'm the Tidy-Bowl man or something."

"When people give you a hard time, tell 'em this is a hands-on job, not a hands-in job," Lindblom wryly interjected.

Over the years, Lindblom said he's noticed construction workers treat portable toilets better than festival attendees.

"You treat them better if you know you'll constantly be using one," he speculated.

Yet Lindblom said he's finds more interesting things left behind following a festival.

"In general, we've found plenty of cellphones, keys and wallets left in portable toilet," he said. "We return all of that to the event organizers."

But Lindblom said he has also found beer cans, beer bottles, diapers and, even, bras left inside outdoor commodes.

"You never know what you're gonna find," he said. "Let's just leave it at that."

As Lindblom and Elenz continued to unload the portable toilets, Elenz reflected for a moment.

"Before I started working for Tom, I never really thought about portable toilets," he said. "In fact, I never really noticed them."

That doesn't surprise Lindblom in the least.

"It's only when you're in the hot sun and have plenty of beer in you that you'll be happy they are plenty of facilities around you," he said.