Volo commission OKs compost facility permit

From the Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, edition of the Northwest Herald:

Volo commission OKs compost facility permit
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

VOLO – The Volo Planning Commission gave its stamp of approval Thursday night to a local landscape company seeking a permit for a waste compost facility and transfer station.

The commission had been mulling whether to recommend Perricone Brothers Landscaping in Volo for the permit since mid-July. When the permit request was publicized, nearby Lakemoor residents alleged that granting the permit would allow “excessive noise, noxious odors, [and] potential ground water pollution,” according to a statement from residents who opposed the permit.

But after discussing the issue for the fourth time Thursday, the commission voted, 6-1, to recommend that the Village Board grant the permit.

“Everyone who had something to say had an opportunity to voice it,” said Betty Wertke, commission chairwoman.

All commission members were present at the meeting. Members Stephen Henley, Naomi Wick, Theresa Arpino, Betsy Connell, Michael DeLillo and Wayne Willis voted in favor of granting the permit, provided that the company adhere to 13 conditions. Commission member Edward Locke voted against recommending the permit be granted. Before the vote, Locke expressed doubt that the smell from the grass clippings could be contained.

“If it isn’t taken care of each and every day you are going to have an odor,” Locke said.

But one of the owners of Perricone Brothers, Mario Perricone, assured the commission that there would be no smell.

“It’s grass clippings and branches. It’s not branch clippings and cow manure,” Perricone said. He said clippings would be recycled within 24-hours.

More than 25 people, including Lakemoor Village President Virginia Povidas, attended the meeting. After the meeting, Povidas said she was pleased with how the commission handled the issue.

"The board did a very thorough job," she said.

Perricone said he was pleased with the outcome of the meeting, although it required scaling down his original request.

"I think everybody got what they're looking for," Perricone said. "It's a good thing, because it'll help the area."

The request has now moved to the Volo Village Board, who will review the matter and decide whether the permit ultimately will be granted.