Code compliance reports decline in odor complaints since 2022 spike; commission hears limits of enforcement

Buxton Demers, manager of the City of Greeley’s newly formed Code Compliance Department, presented the 2025 annual air quality report to the Air Quality and Natural Resource Commission, reporting multi-year complaint trends, describing the city’s odor-investigation procedures and answering commissioners’ questions about enforcement and outreach.

Demers told the commission that the city’s air-quality and odor program dates to 1995 and that the ordinance and enforcement tools were developed to address offensive odors. He provided complaint totals and breakdowns for recent years: 2021 had 10 odor complaints (including six related to a hide plant and two for burning); 2022 showed a spike (staff reported totals in categories including 36 sewer, 24 rendering, 6 feedlot, 7 burning and 14 other); and 2023 had 65 complaints (8 sewer, 32 rendering, 3 feedlot and 22 other). Demers said 2024 saw a reduction in complaints compared with the spike year.

Demers described the city’s investigative standard: an odor violation requires at least two confirmed “7-to-1 dilution threshold” readings within one hour, taken at least 15 minutes apart from different locations. Detecting a violation can also be triggered by three independent complaints within six hours that staff can field-verify. He said the department uses the nasal ranger device for field odor measurements and that certified inspectors in Denver provide annual odor-certification training.

Commissioners asked how complaints are investigated, whether enforcement can extend beyond business hours and what the city can do to reduce odors during high-visibility events such as Stampede and UNC graduation. Demers said staff attempts to investigate complaints within an hour during business hours, triangulates likely sources by going upwind and downwind outside property lines, and contacts known odor generators when staff cannot respond immediately. He encouraged residents to call the city’s odor hotline even for after-hours incidents so the department can log trends and consider staffing adjustments.

Commissioners and staff noted constraints: Demers said that many calls report smells that are annoying but do not meet the numerical threshold for a violation. Commissioners urged more proactive public outreach and stronger engagement with major odor-producing businesses; a staff member said the city manager’s office is considering commissioning a comprehensive odor management plan and study to identify sources and possible mitigation funding options.

The commission heard additional code-compliance questions about noxious-weed enforcement and mechanical versus chemical control after annexation and development; Demers said code compliance conducts proactive inspections and will pursue weed cases when they are identified. No formal motions or enforcement actions were taken during the presentation.