‘Offal’ smell brewing

Dear editor:
Residents of Emo, wake up and smell the coffee, or you’re going to wake up to an “offal” smell.
Putting an abattoir anywhere near a residential area makes absolutely no sense. Let’s drop the sugar-coated words and realize that an abattoir is a nice word for kill plant/slaughterhouse.
Animals arriving at a slaughterhouse can sense and smell what is going to happen to them, and are terrified. Rightly so, as they will be killed, skinned, and eviscerated.
“Offal” is a nice word for intestines, blood, urine, and feces—most, if not all, of which will have to be trucked out of Emo, probably by Rothesay Rendering of St. Boniface, Man., on a weekly basis, which would mean storing offal for several days in all kinds of weather (including hot).
Apparently, the Emo council members are not familiar with the aroma wafting from slaughterhouses and rendering plants, especially in warm weather.
Having lived and worked in Winnipeg, Calgary, and Edmonton, all of which had or have such plants, I can assure them that the smell can best be described as putrid, nauseating, and horrific.
A substantial reduction in nearby property values is assured; events held at the arena, fairgrounds, and equestrian facilities will be adversely affected.
How could land in this area have been zoned industrial when adjacent to a residential, sports, and entertainment area?
How could this proposal have passed an environmental assessment review? It certainly would not if it were located in Fort Frances, Thunder Bay, or Toronto.
However, all may not be lost. Speaking from extensive experience (as a project officer/P. Eng. with Industrial Development Bank/Federal Business Development Bank) in small/medium business financing, this proposal is “dead in the water” unless the taxpayer (FedNor and Ministry of Northern Development and Mines) can be persuaded to fund the vast majority of the project.
And even if built, it has little chance of survival (lack of equity, supply, market, and owner/operator).
I write this letter because I grew up in Emo, I have always promoted the town to others, and it probably would be my first choice for retirement after sale of the farm.
Should this plant ever materialize, I, and I fear many others, will look elsewhere.
Sincerely,
Barry K. Hartry
Emo, Ont.