Environmental issues concerning Sargent Farm on Bear Hill Road brought officials and residents to last night's selectmen's meeting.
After the concerns were discussed, Chairwoman Carol Traynor of the selectmen asked if the Lake Attitash Association could gather the data and ask the state Department of Environmental Protection representative along with state Department of Agriculture representative Bill Blanchard to assess the situation so they can move forward with a solution.
All agreed and said they would return at the Nov. 15 meeting at 7 p.m.
Amesbury Mayor David Hildt, association members, a Department of Agriculture representative, a legal adviser and about 20 residents of both Amesbury and Merrimac raised the issues and complaints about the runoff from the farm and its effects on Lake Attitash.
The farm has been an agricultural operation for 12 generations and began a commercial composting business in 1987.
Todd Campbell of the lake association said they were there to address issues of the watershed, the flies, sea gulls and odor.
Hildt said one of his main concerns is the water, since the lake is Amesbury's main source of drinking water.
He said it is important for the towns to work together and solve these issues, not only the farm's runoff into the lake but also homeowners who use fertilizers on their lawns, which then runs off into the lake.
Most of the residents in attendance complained about the odor.
They said it is so bad it affects their quality of life, many saying they could not sit on their decks and enjoy their surroundings.
Several residents commented on how the smell makes them gag at times and a burning sensation sticks in the backs of their throats. Some said it smells of sewage.
One lake resident said the side of his house is at times totally covered in flies so that at a distance it looks black. He said he uses gallons of pesticide to get rid of them.
Grace White, a Merrimac resident for 33 years, said she is concerned about the air quality and wonders if it is safe to breathe the air.
She suggested an air quality test be done in the area.
Blanchard said he has been working with the farm and there are no violations. He said they have been working on ways to control the flies, sea gulls and odor. Blanchard said they are operating their composting business within the guidelines set by the state.
Fogle said the next step would be to have the representative from the state Department of Environmental Protection and Blanchard meet with the farm owners and come up with a solution.
He suggested they go over the list of compost being brought in and find out how much is coming in, where is it coming from and whether it meets the guidelines.
Blanchard said these agricultural businesses would now have to fill in an updated list each year of what materials are being brought in for composting.
Source: Eagle–Tribune
