By Lukas Brinkerhoff

November 9, 2007 | WELLSVILLE -- Dave Bigelow, plant manager for Northern Utah Manufacturing (NUM), heard complaints about "very strong" odors and noise coming from the plant during City Council meeting Wednesday.

"We have to close our windows because the smell is so strong," said Andrea Curtis, close neighbor to the plant. "If you were to leave your windows open you would have the smell in your bed, pillows and clothes."

Wellsville resident Jan Anderson had pictures of spills taken on two different occasions that she showed to the council. The pictures showed the tanks overflowing and plant workers hosing down the spill.

Bigelow pointed out the location in the picture of a sump pump, saying, "Right in here is a sump where anything that overflows gets washed right down into our sewer system."

Other residents complained about the noise coming from the plant late at night. Stan Wade said he had complained to NUM about a high pitch sound and they had placed a muffler that fixed the problem for a few months but he said the noise had started up again recently.

According to Bigelow, the plant had already spent $100,000 on up-to-date technology to make the facility quieter. He asked, "What else can I do?"

Mayor Ruth Maughan replied, "We are just asking you to be a good neighbor."

The council closed the discussion due to time constraints and plans on having another hearing Dec. 5 to come up with a solution to the problem.

According to their website, "Northern Utah Manufacturing is a contract manufacturer of dry, liquid and semi-solid food ingredients."

The council also unanimously accepted a motion to create the Stormwater Department. The council said a federal mandate requires the city to create the department and have a plan of action in place within given deadlines. City Manager Don Hartle said failure to do so results in a $32,000 a day fine and can put the mayor in jail.

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