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Neighbors complain about recurring odor from hemp facility; city staff eye nuisance options
Summary
Commissioners and staff discussed repeated odor complaints from a hemp processing facility near the old mill area; staff said filtration changes have reduced but not eliminated the smell and that nuisance action would likely require a public hearing and city-attorney review.
Commissioners raised concerns about persistent odor from a hemp processing plant located at the old mill area near North Main. The Director said the issue has come up annually since 2019, that the facility changed its filtration system and the odor would usually subside seasonally, "but this year, it didn't go away," causing renewed complaints from nearby homeowners.
On enforcement, the Director said the city's land-use code prohibits causing a nuisance (noise, smell, dust) but that determining whether a business meets the legal nuisance threshold would likely require a council-level public hearing and consultation with the city attorney. "We've got people, and this is their backyard, and they can't open their windows in the summertime. This is not okay," he said, noting staff aims to mitigate operations rather than immediately pursue shutdowns.
Commissioners asked about remedies and whether the city could force closure; staff said mitigation and improved filtration remain the primary tools to resolve impacts and that full enforcement would be an unusual step. The commission did not take formal action at the meeting; staff said it would continue working with the operator and monitor complaints.
