NEBRASKA CITY – Nebraska City officials opened an update on odor complaints from the Cargill plant with a statement Monday that the company is in compliance with environmental requirements and is working to solve issues that have resulted in odor complaints.

Mayor Bryan Bequette said the recent odor complaints are similar to those at the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic when Cargill reported that vigorous cleaning operations disrupted the biological organisms that are essential to the current wastewater system. He said Cargill has brought in a third-party contractor that has helped the company solve similar odor issues in plants elsewhere.

City Administrator Perry Mader said Cargill has committed to environmental stewardship and to be a good neighbor and partner with the city.

 

Mader: “It was encouraging to know they have been on site, that they have identified problems, they have started working on some things. It’s good to see progress, but the community won’t be satisfied until we start seeing some real solutions.”

Several residents expressed concern that Cargill is not sincere in working for a permanent solution. John Barton, a Ridgeview Circle resident, said his neighborhood near the city golf course receives the brunt of the odor.

 Barton, who introduced himself as Nebraska City’s first public works commissioner, said there were similar issues in 1980 .

We were told, as you related, ‘oh yes, we’re going to do what we can to remedy the issue.’ Well, it was never remedied. It got better for a while and then back to where it was still a problem.”

Mader said the city is  hoping to learn more about long-term solutions that might require a large-scale capital project.

Mader: “You still smell it. You might assume that nothing is happening, but I can assure you there is a lot of communication. There are things starting to move forward and we’re grateful for that.”

Mayor Bequette said he expects Cargill to present at a future meeting when plans for the solution have been finalized.