MONROE - The Board of Public Works took action Monday to determine the extent and validity of complaints about foul odors emanating from a trash transfer station located within the city's boundaries.
Board members passed unanimously a motion to bring in a representative from the Department of Natural Resources to investigate the complaints and test the water in Honey Creek that runs near the transfer station at 127 7th St. on the city's west side.
The city sent letters to the Veolia Environmental Services office in Monroe in four separate complaint incidents between April 5, and August 21, 2012. Each letter cited the violation of a city code regarding accumulation of garbage that produces offensive odors, insects, or rodents or is injurious to public health. The city code declares such a situation to be "a nuisance."
Each complaint was initially investigated by Street Department Supervisor Tom Boll, who documented his investigations of the premises and also reported an odor on the property. He also documented his contact with Veolia regarding a cleanup of the odor source. Veolia was given one week to clean up the problem, and in each case Boll reported that Veolia had complied.
Board President Reid Stangel said he has heard from other city employees who reported having "seen rats and garbage" of more than one day's worth. He and other residents have concerns, he said.
"Some people are pretty irate about what's going on there," he added.
Board members determined residents live and businesses - including "food businesses"- operate within 300 feet of the property.
Member Charles Schuringa said his biggest concern is with contamination of the Honey Creek. Large bursts of rain wash things down to the stream, he noted.
"For better or worse, our (city) zoning has transfer station as a permitted use," said City Administrator Phil Rath. Rath said he was inquiring, in the interest of public health, welfare and safety, whether the owners of the transfer station would be interested in relocating outside the city boundaries.
"I look forward to sitting down with them to see about doing that," he said.
The other option for the city, Rath said, is to establish rules of operation within proper health, safety and welfare guidelines. DNR regulations over transfer stations remain in effect.
Boll was tasked with contacting the DNR for further help.
The transfer station is currently owned by Veolia Environmental Services. But the company announced in July that it had finalized the sale of its U.S. solid waste subsidiary, Veolia Environmental Services North America, to Star Atlantic Waste Holdings, a portfolio company of U.S.-based infrastructure fund manager Highstar Capital. The total transaction value was announced at $1.909 billion. The sale is subject to approval by the U.S. antitrust authorities and is expected to be finalized by the end of the year. Veolia reported that its U.S. solid waste businesses had revenue of $818 million, operating cash flow of $212 million and operating income of $110 million for 2011.
Board members passed unanimously a motion to bring in a representative from the Department of Natural Resources to investigate the complaints and test the water in Honey Creek that runs near the transfer station at 127 7th St. on the city's west side.
The city sent letters to the Veolia Environmental Services office in Monroe in four separate complaint incidents between April 5, and August 21, 2012. Each letter cited the violation of a city code regarding accumulation of garbage that produces offensive odors, insects, or rodents or is injurious to public health. The city code declares such a situation to be "a nuisance."
Each complaint was initially investigated by Street Department Supervisor Tom Boll, who documented his investigations of the premises and also reported an odor on the property. He also documented his contact with Veolia regarding a cleanup of the odor source. Veolia was given one week to clean up the problem, and in each case Boll reported that Veolia had complied.
Board President Reid Stangel said he has heard from other city employees who reported having "seen rats and garbage" of more than one day's worth. He and other residents have concerns, he said.
"Some people are pretty irate about what's going on there," he added.
Board members determined residents live and businesses - including "food businesses"- operate within 300 feet of the property.
Member Charles Schuringa said his biggest concern is with contamination of the Honey Creek. Large bursts of rain wash things down to the stream, he noted.
"For better or worse, our (city) zoning has transfer station as a permitted use," said City Administrator Phil Rath. Rath said he was inquiring, in the interest of public health, welfare and safety, whether the owners of the transfer station would be interested in relocating outside the city boundaries.
"I look forward to sitting down with them to see about doing that," he said.
The other option for the city, Rath said, is to establish rules of operation within proper health, safety and welfare guidelines. DNR regulations over transfer stations remain in effect.
Boll was tasked with contacting the DNR for further help.
The transfer station is currently owned by Veolia Environmental Services. But the company announced in July that it had finalized the sale of its U.S. solid waste subsidiary, Veolia Environmental Services North America, to Star Atlantic Waste Holdings, a portfolio company of U.S.-based infrastructure fund manager Highstar Capital. The total transaction value was announced at $1.909 billion. The sale is subject to approval by the U.S. antitrust authorities and is expected to be finalized by the end of the year. Veolia reported that its U.S. solid waste businesses had revenue of $818 million, operating cash flow of $212 million and operating income of $110 million for 2011.