Residents of Madill are speaking out against the foul smell that has plagued the city for almost two years. Many of them showed up to the city council meeting on September 17 to air their grievances.
One resident said that the smell has been going on way too long. He said that it hasnt' been going on for three, or six months, it's been two years.
Anybody who lives in Madill, or even just drives through it is often hit with the smell that permeates through everything. Even for residents who were raised in the algricultural world can't stomach the smell.
One resident said that the town stinks 'worse than a hog farm.'
Another resident said she 'sprays and burns candles all the time' because the smell has ruined her house.
Residents also voiced their displeasure about the plant even being in Madill. They said that the city should have never given the compnay a certificate of occupancy until they knew there would be no damage to the water treatment plant.
Councilmember Fred Stanley said the ones who really suffer are the ones who live near the ESRO plant, the culprit behind the smell.
“The people that are suffering are those that live near the proximity of this plant, they’re breathing it every single day,” Stanley said.
Dan, a spokesperson for ESRO, was on hand at the meetingtoheartheresidents' grievances. Stanley told the spokesperson that the smell is from gases that arise from their plant and how the smell is affecting more than just the residents' nostrils.
“These gases come back up through your vents, in your shower, your bathtub, your kitchen sink. there’s no escaping it, property values,' Stanley said.' There’s no way anybodywouldbuyahomein that area of Madill.'
Stanley said he is worried that the waste is damaging the city’s sewer plant.
“Since we’re taking in blood products and body parts, no matter how much you grind them up or try to eliminate them or laser them or this or that or whatever, our plant is not made for that,” Stanley stated.
Stanley said he is also worried about the health side effects of the gases.
'These people that have suffered for two years breathing this, we’re not going to know their health problems for a few more years, it’s too late,' Stanley said.
One resident said it is more than just the smell.
“You don’t just have an odor, you have something that was discharged into our lake and you can’t clean our lake,” said a resident.
Dan addressed the angry residents and told them they are working on a solution.
'We are working with our collaborative teams to come up with a solution,' he said. 'We take these matters very serious.'
Madill City Manager James Fullingim said they have been tirelessly looking for solutions.
'From the city side of things, we have been looking at putting in a new sewer treatment plant for the city's future growth,' Fullingim said.
Fullingim said his opinion is that the city will need a new sewer treatment plant in the near future. He said that it would be too cost prohibitive to do the upgrades and would makemoresensetojustbuild a new one.
Fullingim said that once the plant is in compliance, it shouldn't be an issue keeping them in compliance. ESRO said they are looking at putting in pre-treatment sites.
Stanley suggested that he thinks the best course of action would be to give the company a 72-hour notice, stop bringing trucks in, freeze everything they have yet to process and then cut off the water.
Dantoldtheresidentsthat they will shut down certain product lines for 72 hours to try and find a solution.