By Gary Lloyd
TRUSSVILLE — Several Trussville residents came to last week’s Trussville City Council meeting concerned about an odor they believe is coming from a nearby sewage treatment plant.
Terry Ellard, who lives near Cahaba Manor, told the city council that the plant is directly behind his house, and that he’s been noticing the odor over the last three months.
Ellard was at a 2013 city council meeting to let the city know about the noise that came from the plant. At the Dec. 19, 2013 city council meeting, Councilman Perry Cook reported that he met with the former head of the Trussville Inspections Department, Dan Sargent, at Cahaba Manor.
The Trussville City Council
file photo by Gary Lloyd
Cook said at that meeting he heard only “a low hum” while he was there. The building has since been insulated with double duct board.
Ellard said he still hears the noise sometimes.
“Everybody thinks I’m crazy,” he said.
Ellard said the newest problem is the odor, which he said has caused a neighboring home on the real estate market not to sell. The city likely can’t control the odor, so it was recommended that residents call the Jefferson County Health Department.
Ellard said a procedure to protect the citizens of Trussville hasn’t been taken. Councilman Brian Plant said the council meeting wasn’t the right forum for this, recommending Ellard meet with Mayor Gene Melton about the issue.
One resident of Old Roper Road said the odor is noticeable on any day and is detectable from about 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. He said he’s had to go inside because the smell is too bad.
Building out the subdivisions in the area and having more people move in could be causing the plant, which one resident said was built in 2006, to be over its capacity, city officials said.
City council members said they would look into the matter further.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
