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BZA Approves Merrell Bros Treatment Plant
(posted Dec 9)
The Speedway Board of Zoning Appeals gave variance approval for Merrell
Bros to build a septic waste recycling facility at the Waste Water Treatment
Plant's site. Terry Merrell said this is just one of 14 remaining permits
needed before construction of the enclosed facility can begin in the spring.
Although Merrell sent notices to the 46 affected property owners, no one
showed to remonstrate at the December 5 meeting.
Merrell Bros is in the bio-degradable organic waste business that collects septic and grease products. The town currently contracts with them for sludge removal, the sludge is recycled for agricultural use. Merrell said the company is not licensed to handle hazardous materials, and did not want to handle materials that increase the ammonia levels in its waste discharge. The Town of Speedway has reached an agreed order with IDEM to reduce ammonia levels coming from the treatment plant, and Merrell did not want to send waste that contained additional ammonia levels to put the town at risk of violating the order.
IDEM Public information Officer Steve Polston explained the town is involved
in a ten week construction phase to replace the first layer of media in
each nitrification tower with new cross flow media modules. The wastewater
distribution arms are also being replaced. Protective measures are also
part of the project that include installation of surface grating to provide
safe access to the distribution arm to protect the media during maintenance.
Thieneman Construction is doing the work.
Merrell said the company is going into "overkill" to make sure
the odors do not become a nuisance to the nearby neighbors even though
the operations will be enclosed. The odor will also be absorbed with mulch
that is replaced about every five years.
He said the operations can't be "a negative" to the neighborhood
and will comply with the odor prevention plan. Merrell also agreed to upgrade
the road entering the plant to handle the additional truck traffic. As
many as 15 septic tankers could enter and exit the plant during operations
from 7 am to 6 pm. The company has one year to upgrade the road to a paved
surface to avoid generating dust.
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