WATERLOO - The Don Bosco High School football field is no longer out of bounds.

Members of the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to rezone the school's practice gridiron near Gilbertville and bring it into conformance with county zoning ordinances.

Representatives of the school and Immaculate Conception Church, which owns the 6.8-acre site adjacent to the east city limits along Poyner Road, were cited last month for operating the field without proper zoning after a neighboring homeowner complained. The field also was used for several junior varsity games last year, and the bleachers put spectators right next to one couple's backyard.

But members of the Planning and Zoning Commission had unanimously endorsed the zoning change.

Assistant Don Bosco football coach Dave Floyd said steps are taken to ensure the football activities are not disruptive to neighbors, including efforts to keep the site free of litter and debris.

"My rule is, if I find one piece of trash, they run," Floyd said.

But he said it's not possible to move the bleachers from the 50-yard line.

"I understand and respect their concern," Floyd said. "But I also know we've done everything possible to be good neighbors."

The high school team plays its home games at Sloane-Wallace Stadium in Waterloo, and the junior varsity only plays a few games at the field near Gilbertville. It doesn't have lights, so those games must start early.

Contact Tim Jamison at (319) 291-1577 or tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com.