MOUNT DORA, Fla. – City and now county leaders are working to try and find a solution to Mount Dora’s persistent odor problem.
The smell has been plaguing residents in Mount Dora, other parts of Lake County and sometimes floating into Orange County.
While many have said in the past they believe it was the wastewater treatment plant causing the smell, Lake County Commissioner Leslie Campione said she believes the Mid-Florida Materials Facility could be a potential source of the smell.
“Arrows are pointing towards this landfill,” Campione said. Though she acknowledged that this is anecdotal and not yet proven.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
Campione has sent letters to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the company who operates the landfill, Hubbard Construction, expressing her concerns about the odor and other landfill-related issues.
She said she hopes Hubbard addresses the issues she outlined in her letter to them.
“Well, I’m hoping that once they really look closely at this and they see the experience of the residents and the people of Mount Dora and the surrounding area, that they will understand that this is something that has to be addressed right away,” Campione said.
Campione said she suspects that certain materials left at the landfill, such as drywall and gypsum, might be contributing to the smell.
“For me, it’s the same smell that’s associated with the material of drywall, gypsum,” she explained.
In response to Campione’s letter, Hubbard Construction issued a statement saying:
“Hubbard Construction Company is aware of recent letters and statements from Commissioner Campione regarding her views about perceived issues at our Mid-Florida Materials construction and demolition landfill and recycling facility. We work very closely with the Department of Environmental Protection and other inspectors (who regularly visit our site) to ensure our facility continues to operate within the requirements of our permit and other regulations. There is no evidence supporting the various odor or erosion control allegations the Commissioner has directed at our facility.’
Hubbard Construction
Mount Dora city officials revealed that their initial odor study focused solely on the sewer plant.
“It wasn’t to identify any of the source,” said Mount Dora Mayor, James Homich. “It just kind of proved that the sewer plant is not the source. So we’ve got to hunt down the source so that we can take action.”
The city of Mount Dora is expected to discuss conducting a second study to find with the purpose of finding the source of the smell.
According to Mount Dora’s City Council agenda, the second study would cost $270,520.
However, Campione said should the city decide to move forward with the additional study, she plans to bring a request back to the Lake County Board of County Commissioners to help Mount Dora pay for the study.
To read both letters from Campione, see below.
Hubbard Construction Company Packet by News 6 WKMG-TV on Scribd