HomeMy WebLinkAboutRock and Cheryl Hall1
Chris Johnson
From:Shari Hall <ROCKSHALL@msn.com>
Sent:Tuesday, July 17, 2018 8:28 AM
To:City Clerk
Subject:Concerns about proposed composting facility
Hello,
We are writing as concerned citizens of Meridian who live off of Locust Grove, between Victory and Amity. As residents in that area, the proposed
compost site would be fairly close to our property and those of our neighbors. While we are strong proponents of recycling and composting, we do
think there valid concerns about using this location as a composting site.
Obviously, the most important concern is noxious smells coming from the site. The owners say they will take steps to avoid smells and will quickly
locate the source of any noxious smells. Residents can also file complaints with the company. Of course, there is no discussion of the recourse a
resident would have if the company does not address the complaint. Many composting facilities across the US have closed for just this very reason
- noxious odors. And, unless the company has a process in place to incorporate forced aeration, there is going to be a problem with smell - no
matter what Timber Creek Recycling says! Much of Meridian's growth is going in that direction and residents should not have to be subjected to
these odors when the composting site could be placed in a spot that is further removed from residential developments. We lived within 5 miles of
a composting site in another state that was state-of-the-art when it came to using forced aeration and other controls. However, even though we
did not detect any odors, homes that were located south and west of the facility did periodically.
Another major concern is the negative effect on property values of surrounding homes. If noxious odors become a reality at the site, surrounding
homes could become virtually impossible to sell. More minor concerns are the increase in truck traffic, noise of machinery throughout the day and
the possible increase in insects/pests.
Compost facilities can be very good additions to cities. They lower the negative impact of refuse on landfills and provide a valuable resource in the
compost they create. However, they can also cause significant problems for the residents of a city. Since there is an incredible amount of open
land around the county, land that could easily support a composting facility without creating a negative impact on Meridian residents, I think the
City Council should vote against this proposed site until further study can be done on procuring a more isolated area for a facility.
Sincerely,
Rock and Cheryl Hall
913 E Radiant Ridge St
Meridian ID