Slaughterhouse puts village welfare at risk

A poultry slaughterhouse is opening soon within 100 feet of an elderly Marengo resident who has lived behind the House of Bottles for decades. Nearby is a 55-and-older community mobile park. This close proximity has prompted many of the Marengo community to protest to the McHenry County Board and try to stop the slaughterhouse from opening, but to no avail.

Normally a poultry slaughterhouse requires 400 feet of clearance to nearby structures, but because this slaughterhouse will also be processing sheep and goats, the 400 feet clearance is no longer in play. It makes no sense to me why, if 400 feet is required to protect businesses and residences from the stench and noise of poultry being killed, why one sacrificial lamb would eliminate the need.

And, also, why does McHenry County Board refuse to fix this wrong? If the slaughter house is allowed to open at this location, the community will no longer be the quiet and serene area that residents desired when they moved to Marengo. The welfare of Marengo is at stake.

Steve Croghan

Marengo