Today's Feature

Discussed Odor Ordinance Revisions.

The City Council Public Works Committee on Tuesday afternoon officially began discussions of controlling industrial odor emissions locally, instead of relying on the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. During a recent bout of excessive odor emissions, the City began receiving calls from citizens. Calls are usually directed to DNR, but a number of the citizens told Mayor Jim Woestman that DNR had told them to call the City instead. Following this instance, discussions between City staff and DNR have resulted in the move towards municipal regulations of industrial odors, DNR claiming that the City has the capability to detect, identify and enforce excessive odor emissions in-house.

"I think we’ve reached an end with calling DNR," said City Attorney Nate Dally during Tuesday’s meeting.

"They can’t control the odors here."

The company most frequently mentioned regarding the emissions was Renewable Environmental Solutions, which has received a number of citations from DNR over the past several years.

City Administrator Tom Short gave the committee an outline of the nuisance abatement provisions in the current ordinance, and highlighted some of the changes that would be required to adapt the ordinance for industrial emissions.

"We have the ability to do it," said Short, "but the ordinance will need to be dramatically changed."

"Today we’re wanting to get some direction from the committee for things to include in the ordinance."

Topics discussed for inclusion in the ordinance consisted of odor detection and identification, abatement, enforcement, and right of entry to the offender’s property. Under the current code, and proposed changes, the Public Works Department would be responsible for all of these steps.

The odors would have to be detected by a scentometer, which is the same technology used by DNR. The City has an older scentometer on loan from the local DNR agents. The scentometer is a box with a variable dilution rate, through which an officer would smell the air. The dilution rate currently used by DNR is 7 to 1, being 1 part unmodified air and 7 parts filtered air.

Mayor Woestman and other members of City staff have attended several meetings of DNR’s "odor workgroup" over the past year, vying for a change in the dilution ratio, but have had little success. By moving the enforcement in-house, the City would have the ability to establish its own ratio. The committee discussed a 4 to 1, or 5 to 1 ratio during Tuesday’s meeting.

Public Works Director Chad Wampler told the committee that during the most recent odor emissions the scentometer was tested by his department, and there was no odor detected using the 7 to 1 ratio.

"7 to 1 is a tough ratio to pass," said Wampler.

He added that the odor was detected using the 4 to 1 ratio.

Newer technology also exists, according to Wampler. DNR now uses a device called the "nasal ranger," which is similar to the scentometer, but easier to use. The nasal ranger includes a sensor that can tell if officer is drawing air correctly.

Short told the committee that a nasal ranger would cost somewhere between $1,200 and $1,500.

Wampler added that the local DNR officers appear willing to help with training of the Public Works abatement officers, regarding use of the equipment.

Dally expressed concerns about the enforcement, saying that he wanted clarity in the ordinance for prosecution purposes.

"I would like to see more definition on what is a disagreeable odor," said Dally.

Dally added that he wanted the ordinance to include provisions for a set percentage of complaints in any area of the City.

"We need to set standards, like, ‘X’ number of people in the area complained, have a set ratio... those are attainable," said Dally.

"Then the only thing is the enforcement issue, entering property and finding the source."

City Administrator Short added that clarity in the standards of the ordinance would also allow the industries to know what would be expected of them.

"So everybody knows going into it what the rules are," said Short.

The committee discussed many other options for the ordinance, and requested that Dally begin drafting the amendments so that they could be reviewed at the next meeting. The committee also requested a projected cost for implementation of the ordinance, to be discussed at the next meeting.

Committee member Larry Ross recommended that the draft ordinance contain as many enforcement features as possible, which could be removed as needed.

"Write something as strong as you can get it," said Ross.

The committee also agreed that the intention of the ordinance should be to encourage compliance from the industries, and not to submerge the businesses.

"We’d like to see those 40 people working down there to continue to have a job," said Ross.

The committee agreed to continue discussions at the next regular meeting, scheduled for January 6, 2009.

Mornin'
Reprinted from July 12, 2001

The plan to build a facility to use Butterball waste products and turn it into oil was presented to the City Council Tuesday evenin’. The company says it’ll spend around $13 million with about $4.5 of that comin’ from the EPA.

There for a minute I though I heard the faint echo of 76 Trombones playin’ in the background. Just sounds too good ta really believe I suppose. If it really works, and the guy says they’ve proved it will, it will no doubt stir some interest from folks around the world.

The pitch to the Council was with the idea of some type of street and water/waste water infrastructure assistance from the City. The location is already in the enterprise zone. Might make a good movie.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Dear Tom and Ray:

My rich old auntie recently shed this mortal coil and left a 1996 Toyota Camry Collector’s Edition with 14,000 miles. Other than making only spotty trips to the liquor store, the car has not been used for the past two years. It is a luxurious car, for sure, but would I be asking for trouble because of its inactivity? - Annie

TOM: Gee, when my aunt died, all I got was a set of gas-station dinner plates. You, on the other hand, have struck pay dirt, Annie.

RAY; This is an excellent car, and we see many of them in the sop with 150,000 or more miles on them still going strong. So I think you’d do very well to weasel it away from any other covetous siblings who are eyeing it, and pounce.

TOM: If the car’s been used occasionally during the past two years, that means it runs, which is great. So there’s no concern about the internal engine parts sticking or rusting together.

RAY: Unlike, say, your heart muscle, engines don’t weaken when they sit around. In fact, the less they’re used, the longer they last. My brother’s got a munch of old cars. The only reason they still run is that most of the time he can’t get them started.

TOM: The only parts that DO wear out over time, even if you don’t use them, are rubber parts. Rubber is broken down by the ozone in the air. So, even though the tires only have 14,000 miles on them, they’ve been deteriorating for a dozen years now and should be replaced. The same is true for the belts and hoses, including the timing belt.

RAY; But for $1,000 or so, you can get all new tires, belts and hoses, and have, essentially, a brand-new car that will last you for many, many years. And for an extra $50, we’ll call your siblings and assure them that it’s junk.