Neighbors Taking Action Against Fertilizer Odor

Neighbors in the Mountain High subdivision are still reeling from a terrible smell that permeated their neighborhood for nearly a month.

Residents complained during a recent Pineville City Council meeting that a terrible stench of fertilizer had been ongoing for almost four weeks.

The stench prevented a neighbor from showing his house for sale and kept local contractors from working in that subdivision.

The smell was so strong that neighbors said it was overwhelming to go outside.

Neighbors met to discuss the situation, then decided to approach the Pineville City Council meeting to voice their concerns, said Dr. Scott Goldstein, one of several subdivision neighbors.

Goldstein, who spoke at the meeting, said Tuesday that the subdivision will move forward collectively by reaching out to various agencies to see what can be done.

Though the odor is no longer pungent, neighbors are concerned about next year’s fertilizing and want to be proactive.

“This year was a whole lot worse than last year,” Goldstein said.

Neighbors say Roddy Lett fertilized his nearby farm and the smell carried across their neighborhood on the hilltop.

Since he fertilized, no deer have been lingering in the neighborhood, Goldstein said, adding that a great number of vultures have appeared and now stay in neighborhood trees.

Alderman Scott Dennis, who sat in as mayor during the Oct. 10 meeting in Gregg Sweeten’s absence, told Goldstein that Missouri’s Right-to-Farm Amendment often protects farmers and their operations. He also said that homeowners might consider directly contacting the Department of Natural Resources regarding the fertilizer and any ground or water contamination issues.

It’s those agencies to which neighbors will reach out.

Goldstein said neighbors do not know what type of fertilizer has been utilized or if the fertilizer will affect waterways or wildlife.

“That’s not for us to investigate,” Goldstein said. The DNR and EPA are agencies that can determine if there is cause for concern, he said.

The subdivision is located at the top of a hill and, after it rains, all that flows downhill into the creeks that feed into the Elk River, Goldstein said.

“We are not going to be super aggressive,” Goldstein said. “We just want our neighbors to be comfortable living there.”

Attempts to reach Lett at his campground and floating business — Wayside Camp and Elk River Floats – were unsuccessful.