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Residents urge Whitfield County to seek cease‑and‑desist against Essentia Proteins over alleged odors
Summary
Residents at the May 11, 2026 commissioners meeting described months of foul odors from a protein-rendering facility in the Carbondale Business Park and asked county officials, including the county attorney, to pursue a cease‑and‑desist until a proven solution is implemented.
James Worth, a Whitfield County resident, urged the Board of Commissioners on May 11 to use the county attorney to issue an immediate cease‑and‑desist order against Essentia Proteins, which he said has produced persistent, offensive odors that have kept him and neighbors indoors.
Why it matters: Worth and other Carbondale community members said the odors have persisted for months and are affecting children, outdoor activity and quality of life. Commissioners acknowledged they have received complaints and said county staff are coordinating with utilities and the company to investigate solutions.
At the meeting, Commissioner Jones read a staff statement saying Whitfield County officials “are actively working with Dotton Utilities and Essentia to review the issue and identify potential solutions.” James Worth, who gave his address on the record, said he has filed reports with the state environmental agency and asked the board to press for stronger interim action. “This smell is so awful it keeps me in the house,” Worth said.
Worth told commissioners he had reviewed records that show prior enforcement actions against the company’s operations in other states and described the scope of local impact as reaching neighborhood schools and residences within roughly a three‑mile radius depending on wind. He asked the county attorney, Robert Smallley, to issue a cease‑and‑desist and to rely on recorded covenants for the Carbondale Business Park that, he said, prohibit “odors, obnoxious or other discharges” and specifically forbid fat‑rendering processes.
County responses at the meeting were procedural: commissioners said they had met with company and utility representatives and would continue coordination, but the board did not announce any immediate enforcement order or timeline. A county official noted earlier conversations with outside officials and the company’s leadership; the county attorney did not announce a legal action during the meeting.
What to watch next: Residents urged the board to direct inspectors and legal counsel to pursue enforceable interim remedies. Commissioners said staff would continue investigation and coordination with state agencies; the county did not announce a date for a follow‑up report.
Clarifying details: James Worth said the odor issue has persisted for at least six months and that he had filed multiple reports with the state environmental agency; he referenced prior citations in other states (transcript mentions Iowa citations in 2018, 2025 and Feb. 2026). The transcript uses varying spellings for the company (e.g., “Senia,” “Asentia,” “Essentia”); the board’s remarks referenced “Essentia.” The meeting transcript records citizen requests for legal action but records no formal enforcement motion at this meeting.
Ending: Commissioners heard extended public comment and acknowledged ongoing coordination with the company and state agencies; residents left the meeting urging prompt legal or regulatory action and asking for a clear next step from county staff.
