In its first meeting, the newly elected Morinville town council told Champion Petfoods they want a clear plan to address the foul smell coming from the company’s plant.
Councillors voted unanimously to have the company come back to their chambers in early January with a plan to address the longstanding problem.
The motion capped off a night with several presentations from residents complaining about the smell and one from the company’s president.
The strong and near-constant odour coming from Champion’s factory has been a long-standing issue Morinville.
Lucas Percy, one of two residents to address council, said the situation was unacceptable and he wanted something done.
“I would ask that strong, immediate action be taken with the plant right now.”
Percy told council he was unable to enjoy his backyard and was worried about his and his family’s health.
He said the odour has a financial cost as well with lower property values and challenges for residents looking to sell.
Another resident, Matthew Christopher, told councillors they should enact a bylaw governing all noxious odours in the town rather than focusing on the company.
He said if the town had such a bylaw, Champion would be forced to find a solution.
“The problem has to go away and we as the public and town should not care how this happens.”
Frank Burdzy, the president and CEO of Champion, told council the company was not ignoring the issue, but it also wasn’t a simple problem to solve.
Earlier this year, the company installed a plasma injection system that was supposed to be able to eliminate up to 80 per cent of the odour. Burdzy told council it is still being tweaked and the manufacturer is in regularly to improve its performance.
He said the company was not going to rest even if they did achieve the 80 per cent target.
“I am not satisfied that we are there and I am not satisfied that 80 per cent is the right number.”
He stressed the plant uses only all natural ingredients, including fish, chicken, wild boar and red meat that all meet human consumption guidelines.
Several councillors had questions for Burdzy following his presentation, but Coun. Paul Krauskopf was the most forceful and said he wanted something done at the plant because it was a serious concern for residents.
“You haven't been able to reduce the odour significantly, but you have been able to reduce the quality of life to the residents of Morinville,” said Krauskopf.
Following the meeting, Krauskopf said residents want this problem fixed.
“There is a frustration that they say things are being done or things have been done, but really it is no different.”
He said while there have been some calls to simply throw the company out of town or give them an ultimatum, that isn’t reasonable.
“They are a major employer in town, a major tax contributor and you can’t just throw them out of town because the smell is bad.”
Krauskopf was also upset at the company for having moved some of their warehouse facilities to Edmonton recently. Burdzy said they urgently needed space and there simply wasn’t any available in Morinville.
Krauskopf said that, given the problem with the smell that Morinville residents have tolerated, moving some of their business away felt like an insult.
“I took it offensively. I thought it wasn’t a very good move on their part.”
