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Residents complain of paint fumes from local auto body shop and persistent trash at Meridia site; council promises enforcement
Summary
Residents told the council Oct. 28 that an auto body shop on River Drive is spraying cars with garage doors open and blowing paint fumes into nearby yards; other residents said a Meridia-owned warehouse site has recurring litter near a school. Council members pledged follow-up enforcement and possible license action.
Several Garfield residents raised health and quality-of-life complaints during the public-comment period at the Oct. 28 meeting.
Jaggers Demora said an auto body shop near 740 River Drive repeatedly sprays vehicles with doors open and uses fans that blow paint and solvent fumes into the street and neighboring yards. Demora said the fumes affected his family, including a daughter with significant special needs, and that he had video evidence. "He was painting the car... you can see clouds," Demora told the council, adding the emissions were ongoing and disruptive.
Other residents corroborated the complaint. Monica Palmovski said fumes sometimes forced her and her children to leave their backyard. Jerry Leford suggested the operator could rent time in a nearby enclosed spray booth at Crown Auto to reduce outdoor spraying.
Joan Vanz and other speakers raised separate but related concerns about an accumulation of garbage at a Meridia warehouse site on Monroe Street/River Road near School No. 6. Vanz said beer cans and other debris were “thrown all over” and that children walking to school were passing by the piles.
Council members acknowledged long-standing complaints about the body shop and the Meridia property. Officials said property-maintenance staff had issued warnings and that fines and license-renewal consequences could follow if conditions did not improve. Deputy Mayor Kane said businesses that fail to maintain property may have their licenses denied at renewal. The mayor and council said they would follow up with property managers, code enforcement and the police department; the mayor called for stronger enforcement and asked city staff to continue monitoring the sites.
City officials did not adopt new regulations at the meeting but advised residents to continue filing complaints so staff could escalate enforcement when appropriate.
