My experience is that the Black Walnut leaves and nuts do not contain enough Juglone to be of any concern. I have used just Black Walnut leaves as a mulch and found no growth suppressing qualities apparent, except the "weeds" I covered up, or quack grass growing in places I put down heavy layers of Shredded Black Walnut leaves. I have seen thios property at work where the trees roots run, but not where I have used the leaves, nut hulls, or branches trimmed off the trees.

Some people like to see the "smoking" effect of a hot compost pile but the reality is that, even if you don't see that, your compost pile is still working. It just may take longer. That doesn't mean you have to leave it all dry or all wet, though. Your description of the moisture level sounds about right. You can keep the ratio anywhere from 4:1 up to 30:1 for browns to greens. There is a large leeway because compost happens. People don't get it exactly right based on some book-learning, but they still end up with compost. There are people who will mulch leaves and others who don't, and they all still get compost. When the compost is a good mix of crumbly, dark stuff that you don't recognize what it was before, then you can say that part is done (though some people would at least give it a few months or more to get there). There may be other sections of the compost pile that are not done, so those you can leave in longer if you have just 1 pile or put them to another pile to redo. You don't need to cover the compost pile. If draining and aeration is good in the pile, then rain should be fine. If you know the stuff that went into your compost, then it should be safe for your plants. It may still not have all the different levels of trace resources that plants need, but that is where you will learn more and add in variety of materials or mix with other additives when you are ready to use it.

Unless the compost you have is way too wet those rubbermaid containers will not need drain holes although they should have air holes, or some other means of air infiltration. I would agree that for less cost you could get or make a bin at the new place of abode than those rubbermaid totes, however how would you get the compost from point A to point B without them? For the travel time the well sealed totes will not be a problem although they should not be left sealed longer than a couple of days.

I agree with Rott, however now the City is involved in the dispute. If you give the city officials who visit you enough ammunition to educate the people they report to re: their own municipal standards for composting, it will most likely take care of the problem if you following the composting guidelines. You don't want to make a "lid" however, if you simply lay another pallet on top, both light and water will get in the bin and screen it a bit and still create good compost. It's a thought. I don't know the height of your homes, or your restrictions for screening, but you could consider planting a cheap hedge. My immediate neighbors party 24/7 on the front lawn with about 20 other men. Day and night. Not too loud but whenever I go outside they are all there staring at me,cat calls and other rudeness. Nothing can be done except HEDGE. I can't wait until it's cool enough to plant a very fast growing hedge, since I can not install a tall fence in that area. My property is very large for an urban property and my front yard equals the width of 3 normal small front yards. All of it is gardened - one purely veggies ringged in flowers, the other a potager and the third is mostly herbs (although looks like a flower garden). The garden has inspired 4 neighbors to remove lawns and plant gardens, and a 5th is planning on it this fall (out of 11 people on our end of the street besides us). Everyone loves it!