Prestige Feed Products hands neighbors a present, shutting down Mount Prospect operation on Christmas Eve

Prestige Feed Products will officially end its operation on Christmas Eve morning, officials from the Mount Prospect animal feed producer announced.

That means neighboring residents and businesses in Mount Prospect and Des Plaines can breathe a sigh of relief after more than six years of being bombarded by the smell of burnt cheese.

Mount Prospect Village Manager Michael Cassady on Tuesday shared a message from Prestige confirming the final manufacturing shift would start that night at 8 p.m. and end Wednesday at 7 a.m.

Beginning Friday, Prestige said it would disassemble and move the manufacturing equipment and product at the 431 Lakeview Court plant over a period of several weeks.

“This work involves noticeable manpower and shipping activity during daytime hours,” the message said. “We will continue to perform our administrative functions at the Facility for the foreseeable future.”

Under a settlement that ended a legal tug of war with Mount Prospect and Des Plaines, Prestige agreed to cease operations by the end of the year.

The message revealing the closing, which ended with a happy holidays wish, was distributed by email to neighbors, who reacted with guarded enthusiasm.

“We still will believe it when we see it,” said Mary Beth Stillmaker, the resident of Des Plaines’ Longford Glen subdivision who spearheaded opposition to the plant.

“This could not have been resolved if we didn’t have such community support,” she said.

More than 1,600 complaints were logged by neighbors over a two-year period, although Prestige’s attorneys claimed studies revealed odor levels did not reach nuisance levels.

“I think the one who gets the most credit is Mary Beth. She’s the five-star neighborhood general,” said Mount Prospect resident Robert Cullen. “It’s going to be a big relief for all the neighbors. When (the smell) was there, it was awful. You couldn’t be outside.”

Although Prestige is halting operations, it is still involved in litigation. That includes a lawsuit by the Illinois attorney general’s office and a class-action lawsuit from neighbors. A hearing date is set for Jan. 26 on the state’s action.