ARCHIVED  March 1, 1997

Greeley’s ag base presents distinctive odor problems

GREELEY – What has contributed in large part to Greeley’s growth may now be what hinders the city’s effort to keep pace with economic development in the region.
Ag-related industry has brought Greeley economic prosperity and something else besides – its singular smell.
Pungent, often over-powering aromas waft through the city and linger in the nostrils of Greeley dwellers from one end of town to the other. And while many have come to accept the “smell of money,” some concerned with prospects for the city’s growth worry that the odors are driving away new business.
“I can’t give you statistics like XYZ company said they weren’t coming here because of the smell,´ said Lyle Butler, president of the Greeley/Weld Chamber of Commerce. “But the perception that it’s a problem persists despite the fact that in the past several years Greeley has made great strides to control it.”
As part of its effort, last year the city formed the Greeley Air Quality and Natural Resources Commission.
The board, affectionately know as the odor board or “cow poop committee,” is charged with enforcing the city ordinance on odor violations. Citizens are encouraged to call the “odor hotline” and report offensive smells, which are then confirmed by city investigators and attributed to a source if possible. If 10 confirmed complaints are made within a six-hour period, the offender is officially in violation of the odor ordinance. Violators are subject to a fine and are required to produce an odor-abatement plan.
After one year of operation, however, the committee has yet to take action against an odor source. Too few complaints from citizens have been received to warrant response.
According to Greeley’s community-development director, Betty Safarik, the city received 74 calls between April 1996 and January 1997. Of that number, 33 odors were confirmed.
Safarik said the heaviest volume of calls was received in August. During warmer months the combination of heat and cloud cover traps the odors close to the ground.
“We find that most calls come in on warm days between 3 and 6 p.m.,” she said. “That’s generally when it’s warmest, when more people are outside and when the cows begin to stir.”
Safarik said the low number of citizen complaints has prompted the city to set up a new phone line. Now citizens calling after business hours will reach someone immediately instead of being asked to wait for a return call.
“We hope this will make it easier for people to call in,” she said.
Commission chairperson Gerri McCoy said she didn’t know why they weren’t hearing from more people.
“Is the public apathetic? Do they feel the ordinance is unenforceable the way it’s written? Is the reporting process too difficult? We don’t know for sure, but we’re working with city council to find out and and make changes if necessary,” she said.
The commission recently met with city council to discuss the viability of the odor ordinance. Council asked the board to report back within the next month or so with what they thought was a reasonable number of calls to require before action is taken against an odor source. City council also approved a reallocation of the board’s funds to be used to increase public awareness.
McCoy, who is serving a two-year term, said the commission is relatively inexperienced when it comes to agricultural issues. Five board members meet once a month, and on several occasions guest speakers have been brought in to bring them up to speed.
McCoy said the board is now ready to do its job if given the opportunity.
One recent step was to send letters to four sources of confirmed odors – the Monfort meat packing plant, the Meyer feed lot, Greeley’s waste-water treatment plant and Platte River By-Products – informing them they have been identified as an odor source.
Kay Miller, director of public affairs at Monfort of Colorado Inc., said she hadn’t seen such a letter, but she said Monfort has a good handle on their odor and operates in accordance with the city’s odor ordinance.
“We have over one million dollars in odor-control equipment in place,” she said. “We have a real strong sensitivity to being a good neighbor, and I think we’re doing a good job.
“The fact is, we’re a meat-packing plant, and as with any manufacturing-type plant, there’s odor associated with the work. The key to keeping offensive odor under control is getting the right equipment and making sure it operates properly.”
Miller said the company hasn’t felt any additional pressure as a result of the city’s effort to attract new business.
“We’re an agricultural community,” she said. “That’s not an excuse. It’s who we are, and it’s something we’re proud of. We employ 4,000 people in Weld County and contribute a great deal to the community.”
Miller said Monfort would cooperate with the Air Quality Commission to correct the problem if they were found in violation.
While the odor board tries to find its legs, Greeley’s chamber of commerce has put together a marketing committee to discover what the people think.
Butler said the committee will survey citizens to determine their perception of the problem and what they think should be done.
“Greeley is a good, family-oriented city with a lot to recommend it,” Butler said. “We’re not going to get rid of the perception that it smells overnight. But changes have been made, and it’s much better than it was.”
“If we’re not getting the calls maybe it’s not that big a problem,” McCoy added. “But we want to work with the community to address the problem if people think it exists.”
To register an odor complaint, call (970) 350-9831.
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GREELEY – What has contributed in large part to Greeley’s growth may now be what hinders the city’s effort to keep pace with economic development in the region.
Ag-related industry has brought Greeley economic prosperity and something else besides – its singular smell.
Pungent, often over-powering aromas waft through the city and linger in the nostrils of Greeley dwellers from one end of town to the other. And while many have come to accept the “smell of money,” some concerned with prospects for the city’s growth worry that the odors are driving away new business.
“I can’t give you…

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