New equipment at Mount Prospect factory, but odor complaints continue

Equipment recently installed by Prestige Feed Products seems to be reducing odors from the business, but complaints persist, an attorney for Mount Prospect told a Cook County judge Monday.

The comments came as Judge Clare Quish granted Mount Prospect’s request to postpone a hearing on the village’s request for a preliminary injunction against the animal feed manufacturer at 431 N. Lakeview Court.

The injunction request, now scheduled for a hearing Jan. 22, could force the business to cease operations until the odors — compared to burnt cheese — are under control. Until then, the village will continue to monitor noise and odor at the site.

Village officials already have reached agreement with Prestige allowing the company to operate at night. With the recent installation of odor-mitigating equipment, Prestige also can operate during the day.

Prestige attorney Riccardo DiMonte told the judge that the company is keeping the village informed about the hours of operation.

“We think the complaints have subsided,” he said, while noting there are still some complaints.

But resident Mary Beth Stillmaker, who lives in the Longford Glen subdivision across the street in Des Plaines, said Monday that the situation has not improved.

“They cooked (during the day) on Thursday and Friday,” she said. “It was terrible. The smell was still there.”