Ft. Branch Residents Worry Work At Old Emge Plant Poses Health Risks
By: Kayla Moody
Updated: January 17, 2013
Fort Branch residents sound off their grievances regarding -- what they call -- a "bad neighbor." They're not concerned about a person, but instead, the old Emge packing plant.
The town council hosted a special meeting Wednesday night to discuss the property's future. The plant is owned by Congress Oil, but it's currently being used as a glass staging area for a Princeton company called, Boxell Trucking Inc. People who live within sight of the plant say those operations create huge dust clouds that carry glass onto their properties. The work is causing many of them to worry how the operations could affect their health. One resident told the council he swept four tablespoons of glass off his driveway -- and even found shards of glass in his grilled hamburger.
"This is worse than any war," says Melvin Greulich, a Marine Corps veteran whose property neighbors the plant. "I never believed I'd have to fight glass the rest of my life."
No decision was made Wednesday night on any immediate action, but they did discuss pursuing legal action against the property owner and Boxell Trucking. Neither Congress Oil nor Boxell Trucking came to the meeting. The council will further explore possible legal action during an executive session next Thursday.
The town council hosted a special meeting Wednesday night to discuss the property's future. The plant is owned by Congress Oil, but it's currently being used as a glass staging area for a Princeton company called, Boxell Trucking Inc. People who live within sight of the plant say those operations create huge dust clouds that carry glass onto their properties. The work is causing many of them to worry how the operations could affect their health. One resident told the council he swept four tablespoons of glass off his driveway -- and even found shards of glass in his grilled hamburger.
"This is worse than any war," says Melvin Greulich, a Marine Corps veteran whose property neighbors the plant. "I never believed I'd have to fight glass the rest of my life."
No decision was made Wednesday night on any immediate action, but they did discuss pursuing legal action against the property owner and Boxell Trucking. Neither Congress Oil nor Boxell Trucking came to the meeting. The council will further explore possible legal action during an executive session next Thursday.
