1 of 2
Sydney Cromwell
Volatile Analysis
Katherine Bazemore presents the second phase of chemical testing results to the special issues committee and West Homewood residents.
2 of 2
Sydney Cromwell
GYN Cancers Awareness Month
Mayor Scott McBrayer reads a proclamation declaring September GYN Cancers Awareness Month in Homewood, with two cancer survivors present.
After presentation of the latest chemical testing results from Volatile Analysis, the Homewood City Council is ready to meet with the two companies where the strongest presence of odor-causing chemicals were found.
Katherine Bazemore of Volatile Analysis returned to the special issues committee on Sept. 12 to talk about the results, which showed that the fatty-acid chemicals causing strong sour, cheese-like odors had showed up in samples taken from the Buffalo Rock wastewater treatment plant and the nearby Vanguard facility, both in West Homewood.
“Buffalo Rock was determined to be the primary location to do mitigation,” Bazemore said, adding that the smell was discernible while on the Buffalo Rock site doing testing. Some quantities of the same chemicals were found at Dean Foods, which was previously believed to be the likely source, but they were not strong enough to be smelled on-site.
Bazemore said she felt confident enough in the results, which were based on seven primary odor-causing compounds, to recommend the city council begin working with Buffalo Rock and Vanguard directly. She said both companies should have the capabilities needed to do any further testing and begin taking steps to bring the chemicals down to an acceptable range.
“I feel like we’ve given you very good information to get those guys together,” Bazemore said.
Volatile Analysis had shared copies of its results with the involved companies as well as council members. Dean Foods contacted council members during the special issues meeting with its response, which was not discussed, but neither Buffalo Rock nor Vanguard had responded.
The committee has asked city attorney Mike Kendrick to set up a meeting with Buffalo Rock and Vanguard within the next week to talk about next steps. Bazemore offered to return at no extra cost to help define what chemical testing the companies will need to do next. Committee members also asked her to give an estimate of what Volatile Analysis would charge for a similar study in case they need it.
Bazemore estimated three to four weeks of additional testing to determine quantities of chemicals present, and enacting solutions could begin within a few weeks or months, depending on the complexity of the problem.
“I think that you should be able to see some progress within that [six to nine-week] period," Bazemore said.
At the full council meeting following the special issues meeting, the council approved a new version of the Neighborhood Preservation District zoning ordinance. The ordinance limits houses on 55 feet wide or smaller lots to 29 feet in height from threshold to apex, or a maximum of 32 feet when lot grading is included. For houses on larger lots, the height is now 35 feet or up to 38 feet when including grading.
The ordinance also establishes minimum side setbacks of five feet and nine feet for homes on lots 55 feet wide or smaller and setbacks of 10 feet on each side for larger lots.
The council also:
- Declared September GYN Cancers Awareness Month in the city.
- Approved Progressive Columbiana's rezoning request at 822 Columbiana Road, from Office Building District to Attached Dwelling Unit District. The rezoning allows the construction of four townhomes, in addition to six on an adjacent lot already approved.
- Approved a sign ordinance variance for Your Pie, 1831 28th Ave. S. Suite 160, to build a projecting sign.
- Approved funding a crosswalk signal at the intersection of Oak Grove and Oxmoor Road up to $15,000.
- Made a portion of the alleyway between Woodland Drive and Broadway Street pedestrian-only.
- Approved a project to synchronize traffic signals on Lakeshore Parkway.
- Sent discussion of economic development incentives for Oldacre McDonald, which purchased and plans to renovate the Wildwood South shopping center, back to the finance committee.
- Carried over discussion of changing Rumson Road to be a one-way street.
- Carried over discussion of a fence variance request at 612 Hambaugh Ave.
- Carried over a sign ordinance variance request at 2900 Linden Ave.
- Declared two fleet maintenance vehicles surplus in order to trade them for two 2017 models.
- Referred discussion of a sidewalk project on Mayfair Drive to the finance committee.
- Set a public hearing on Sept. 26 to consider a sign variance at 809 Green Springs Highway.
