Northwest Iowa families push for stronger action against company blamed for rotting hog smell

Eight northwest Iowa families are fighting back against a company they say is strangling it with the overwhelming smell of dead, rotting hogs.

An attorney for the Estherville families filed a motion this week, pushing Emmet County leaders to take stronger action against Central Bi-Products, a Minnesota company under fire for failing to do enough to address putrid odors emanating from the rendering plant.

The families say the county isn't taking strong enough action to ensure the problem gets fixed after three years of "extremely noxious, highly objectionable odors."

The county should do "everything reasonably possible" to prevent Central Bi-Products from inflicting further damage on the community's "shared fragile air and water resources," the motion says.

The families' attorney filed a motion to intervene in an Emmet County petition that seeks $4,750 from Farmers Union Industries, the parent of Central Bi-Products, for violating its conditional-use permit.

The county said Farmers Union Industries failed to take reasonable action to control odor. Among the county's complaints: Central Bi-Products left semi-trucks filled with hog carcasses sitting outside, with fluids and decaying parts spilling into the yard.

And over a consecutive 12 days, no fewer than 38 residents complained about putrid smells from the plant.

"Nothing in the county infraction allegations suggests a goal of abating the source of the odors," wrote James Larew, an Iowa City attorney representing the families, who have formed the Emmet County Citizens Advocacy Group.

Estherville residents and leaders told the Register in September they felt like they have been held hostage by the plant's odor — described as "death, like rotting flesh" — that blanketed the community of 6,400 over part of last summer.

The plant's owner has said it's making improvements that should reduce the odor.

The rendering plant, sitting just south of Estherville, cooks hog carcasses from regional confinement operations and processing plants to make bone meal, an animal feed supplement, and oil that's used to produce biodiesel.

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Douglas Hansen, the Emmet County attorney, didn't immediately return requests for comment Thursday; neither did Dan Hildebrandt, CEO of Farmers Union Industries.

The motion says the "voices of the citizens most affected by Central Bi-Products’ harmful emissions have not yet been heard in this county infraction proceeding.

"Indeed, in instances in which Emmet County residents have attempted to voice concerns about details of the litigation, they are constantly told that their elected leaders cannot discuss matters related to the pending litigation," the motion says.

The families say the plant's odor limits residents' use of their homes and businesses, disrupts family and community events, outdoor recreation and school activities, harms local businesses and shopping, and hurts economic development.

The motion said the group's "overarching purpose is not to 'shut down' Central Bi-Products, but, rather, to seek a solution that permits the rendering plant to operate without simultaneously infringing on private property rights, business interests, and the public’s interest in breathing clean air."

MORE: Residents band together to fight hog confinements

The motion does not include damages for the families. A district court hearing hasn't yet been set.

The motion includes statements from the families, who outlined how smells from Central Bi-Products have affected their lives.

Randy Colsrud and his wife, Jeri, who own a storage business near the rendering plant, bought an air duct purification system to reduce the "obnoxious, putrid odor" coming from the plant.

Customers ask the couple how "we are able to tolerate the stench," said Randy Colsrud, adding that some visitors are calling Estherville "Stinkville."

"The smell is so repulsive that it sometimes causes us to gag," he said, adding that the couple must hold their breath as they run from their vehicle to their business.

And they say they've seen animal parts, blood and fluid spilled from Central Bi-Product vehicles, both at the plant and on Iowa Highway 4, which runs through Estherville.

They said their work vehicles get splattered from spilled "animal blood and fluid."

Deborah Gruwell, a teacher, said the smell spoils recess for elementary children.

Kevin Wegner said the rendering plant's smell is one of the worst he's experienced, making it difficult to grill, bike or participate in other outdoor activities.

And he hears complaints from players, parents and fans at sporting events where he officiates.