What stinks in Mount Prospect? Village working with company on odor complaints

Mount Prospect officials will be meeting with an animal feed manufacturer in the Kensington Business Center Monday to discuss complaints about odors emitted from the plant and options for remediation, Village Manager Michael Cassady said on Friday.

Prestige Feed Products, 431 S. Lakeview Court, is working to address problems related to its dehydration of cheese in the manufacture of animal feed, Cassady said.

"They really took a deep dive on their ventilation system," he said. "They did find a couple of breaches, and we're hoping (fixing them) might minimize some of the issues."

Earlier last week at the village board meeting, Mayor Arlene Juracek had assured Kathy Kuzniar, a resident in the Longford Glen subdivision in Des Plaines, that the village is taking the odor concerns seriously.

Expressing concern about property values, Kuzniar said she wanted to know what is being released into the air and if there are potential health effects. She also asked for the manufacturer to be checked periodically.

"You have to close up all your doors and windows," she said during the time reserved for citizen comment. "You can't be outside. It is horrendous."

Juracek said the village was not aware there would be odors associated with the company. "When we heard the resident complaints, that's the first time we were aware of the situation."

She said she couldn't speak "to the chemical composition" but said the village's building and inspection services division is "incredibly diligent." She said the village has the ability to take action through its nuisance ordinances, but the goal is voluntary compliance.

"We need to give them time to create a compliance plan, and that's what we're doing," Cassady said Friday. While the company has until June 24 to comply, Cassady said, "Monday we want to see a plan."