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Resident urges city action after years-long gas-like odor on Lincoln Avenue
Summary
At the July 7 Belvidere City Council meeting, resident Cheryl Ribik told the council a gas-like smell on Lincoln Avenue has persisted for at least eight years, she and neighbors have repeatedly reported it to a utility/service and the fire department, and asked the city to identify and stop the source; the mayor pledged staff follow-up.
Cheryl Ribik, who said she and her husband live at 715 E. Lincoln Avenue, told the Belvidere City Council on July 7 that a persistent, gas-like odor has plagued their street for at least eight years and possibly longer.
"It smells like natural gas. We have repeatedly called Nyore. We have repeatedly called the fire department," Ribik said, adding that some neighbors cannot breathe inside their homes and that families with small children avoid outdoor play because of the smell.
Ribik said she and a neighbor were able to review text-message threads going back eight years documenting the problem. She asked the council to identify the source, explain who is responsible, and take action because the odor is affecting older residents and children.
The mayor thanked Ribik and said city staff would follow up and try to bring the matter to a resolution, noting the city believed it "had an answer" and would be in touch. The transcript records the utility/service Ribik referenced as "Nyore"; the council did not provide technical test results during the meeting.
City officials present instructed staff to investigate and follow up with the resident. No formal action (ordinance or vote) addressing the odor was taken that evening; the council instead moved on to other agenda items.
What happened next: The mayor said staff would follow up with Ribik; the transcript did not record a timetable or the specific investigative steps planned. Reporters seeking more detail should request records or ask the city for the results of any prior tests and for the identity of the utility/service Ribik referenced in her comments.
Why it matters: Residents describe potential health and quality-of-life impacts from a long-running neighborhood smell. Identifying the source and any responsible party would determine whether the city has authority to require remediation or whether another agency or private company must act.
