CASS COUNTY, Neb. (WOWT) - The proprietor of the contentious composting location southwest of Omaha suggests that the odor is dissipating; however, neighbors firmly object, leading Cass County Commissioners to call for explanations.
The heaps of composting material at the site have decreased, but this is due to their distribution across adjacent fields.
It makes your eyes and throat feel as though they're burning," stated neighbor Anke Horacek. "It's similar to encountering a powerful ammonia scent; that's how it smells.
The fields are blanketed with what the landowner — Andy Harpeneau from Black Elk Farms — calls "corn milling," and his lawyer informs the Cass County board about this. complaints haven’t been ignored.
We encourage individuals to engage in discussions, but often these conversations revolve around theories suggesting he aims to jeopardize the safety of those nearby, which isn’t accurate," stated Harpeneau’s lawyer, Brent Meyer. "His intention is merely to utilize natural fertilizers for his land.
At the commissioner’s meeting on Tuesday, Harpeneau remained inconspicuous; however, Cass County Attorney Chris Perrone still pointed him out.
It's extremely difficult for this board to overlook your indifference to what your neighbors think," stated Perrone. "Would it be reasonable to assume that you'd prefer not to reside there?
No," Harpeneau responded. "It wouldn't be fair to claim that I wouldn't wish to reside there.
Harpeneau states that he tends to the fields daily, though not as some believe he ought to. He argues that applying corn milling compost to his land diminishes odors; however, nearby residents and the county board disagree, asserting that this measure alone isn’t sufficient. They maintain that the sole effective method for eradicating the unpleasant smells is tilling the compost into the soil.
His attorney objects.
"Plowing a cover crop that has already been sown and is growing would ruin the cover crop and constitutes an unreasonable demand," Meyer stated.
But Cass County Board Chairman Alex DeGarmo says it’s reasonable to demand the landowner be a good neighbor.
“We've been grappling with this odor issue for an extended period,” DeGarmo stated. “Despite sending several violation notices, our aim remains to find a resolution.”
Harpeneau informed the board that he ceased using the corn milling substance several weeks prior. Because of a non-disclosure agreement with the manufacturer of this material, he is unable to disclose all its components.
Next month, the Cass County Commissioners plan to hold a closed-door meeting to determine whether any steps should be pursued regarding Black Elk Farm or its proprietor.
Last summer ,
Harpenau claims none of the material on his property came from the AltEn plant in Mead that had been designated as a site for decontamination and cleaning up pollution.