Will Prestige’s new equipment pass the smell test?

A Mount Prospect animal feed producer that neighbors say has inundated nearby residents with a “burnt cheese” odor for four years will be allowed to operate during the daytime over the next three weeks.

Mount Prospect conducted an inspection Wednesday of the $300,000 odor mitigation equipment installed by Prestige Feed Products, 431 Lakeview Court, village attorney Allen Wall said at a hearing in Cook County Circuit Court later that day. Wall said the inspection “seemed to go very well.”

As a result, the village withdrew its emergency motion for a temporary restraining order, and Prestige can operate during the day until the next hearing before Circuit Judge Clare Quish on Jan. 8.

Prestige had been allowed to operate at night under an agreement with the village. But after complaints from neighbors, especially in Des Plaines’ Longford Glen subdivision across the street, the village filed a temporary restraining order.

However, the village will continue to monitor odors and noise on the outside of the property. To allow the village to conduct that monitoring, Prestige will provide Mount Prospect with an operating schedule.

Prestige’s attorney, Riccardo DiMonte, said that in order to add the daytime hours, it will need additional labor.

DiMonte said Prestige will be performing a set of scientific tests for odor and noise and will share those results.

At a previous hearing held on Monday, DiMonte told the judge the new equipment, which cost about $300,000 to purchase and install, was installed last week. He said Prestige tested the equipment Saturday morning for about an hour.

“We believe that it’s functioning as intended,” he said Monday.